Happy Holidays!

This is our final annual campaign letter. It is from our Executive Director, Chris Estes.

Dear Concerned Citizen,

As everyone knows this has been one of the most challenging, uncertain and active periods in the history of the affordable housing movement. With great challenges have come tremendous responses from the Federal Government, state agencies, and local for profit and nonprofit organizations. I am proud to say that the Housing Coalition has played an active role in creating solutions. We’ve provided direct technical assistance to organizations and communities, influenced public policy and helped people in crisis find the resources they need.

For me, the highlights of our work in 2009 began with hosting our first ever Policy Summit in the spring that brought together over 150 folks to learn about how to access recovery act funding. We completed more foreclosure prevention workshops this year than any other year of the program. We’ve received tremendous feedback from clients across the state who have been able to stay in their homes because of the information they received at these workshops. Our Carolina Homeless Information Network was recognized as HMIS of the Year by HUD and successfully prepared hundreds of agencies to participate in the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program. We launched our outreach program by providing staff support to local housing advocacy coalitions in Charlotte, Asheville and Raleigh. We also facilitated Fair Housing trainings for over 300 property managers and landlords. In addition, we launched our first ever Annual Campaign and produced our first Annual Report since 2001. To top it off, this fall we co-hosted the largest affordable housing conference in NC with CICCAR and NCHFA, and held a special training track for housing counselors.

Through all of this, the NC Housing Coalition has remained steadfast in our efforts to be the advocate for low income people in need of quality affordable and accessible housing. We strive to be the connection between those of you in the field and the information you need to do your work and to connect you to the partners and resources that will help you meet these many challenges our state is facing.

Our reward is your success. It is your grand opening, seeing your residents talk about how much they love their new home and how your housing has allowed them the freedom to live outside of an institution. It is the stories of developers able to build when they didn’t think it was possible. It is the relief from the client on the phone when they get information about who can help in their local community. This is what makes our work so special. We hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year.


Warm Regards,
Chris Estes
Executive Director, NC Housing Coalition

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Home for the Holidays!

Below is a letter from Jack Lloyd, a mortgage defense attorney for Legal Aid of North Carolina.

Dear citizen,

As an attorney with Legal Aid of North Carolina's (LANC) Mortgage Foreclosure Defense team, my work, like the work of many non-profit employees across North Carolina, is greatly enhanced by the network of non-profits encouraged and coordinated by the North Carolina Housing Coalition (NCHC). It is through this network that my work can meet the comprehensive needs of our clients. By facilitating relationships and joint projects among North Carolina non-profits, the Coalition expands the reach of Legal Aid's services and increases the depth and quality of our work.

Over the past year, NCHC has invited me and other LANC foreclosure attorneys to help lead continuing education workshops on the foreclosure process for housing counselors. Housing counselors are on the front line of the mortgage crisis. By including attorneys in their training and by providing non-profit collaboration, the Coalition has empowered hundreds of housing counselors to handle foreclosure cases more extensively before having to refer the homeowners to attorneys. This increased capacity on the part of counselors allows the attorneys to handle the more complex, time-consuming cases.

Recently, a family of four in the greater-Charlotte area was facing a near-disastrous situation: Doctors treating the uninsured, out-of-work father for heart failure discovered he also had a brain tumor-a month after determining that one of his daughters required new pins in her spine to combat scoliosis. The costs were overwhelming. The bank, unwilling to allow the family anymore time in their home, pushed to foreclose. The family, having no where to live exceept their car, contacted a housing counselor. Fortunately, their counselor had recently been to one of NCHC and LANC's continuing education workshops.

The counselor, therefore, knew not only the foreclosure basics (enough to stave off foreclosure until the case was referred to an attorney), but also the contacts she needed within the LANC foreclosure team for a smooth and efficient transfer of the case. Working with the housing counselor, the LANC attorneys discovered numerous problems with the bank's claims and forced the bank to dismiss its case. Although health problems remain for the father, because of the network and workshops created by the NC Housing Coalition, the family will be spending this Christmas in their home, not in their car.

Please donate generously to NC Housing Coalition. Their work helps many of us to do our work better, and that's good for all North Carolinians.

Yours very truly,

Jack Lloyd
Mortgage Foreclosure Defense Attorney
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.

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You can make a difference! Contribute to our Fall Campaign

Below is a message from our Director of CHIN (Carolina Homeless Information Network).

Greetings:

This week our thoughts turn to giving thanks for the abundance and blessings we have received. This is the season of the year when thousands of people in North Carolina give of their time and talents by volunteering in soup kitchens and homeless shelters to help the neediest among us. It is a wonderful gesture of concern for our neighbors who no longer know the comfort and security of having a home. Thankfully, the outpouring of generosity literally saves the lives of those experiencing the harsh reality homelessness. Still, it is not enough.

Homelessness is not seasonal. If you look closely, the number of homeless individuals and families is growing and the need for assistance is greater than ever. Agencies that serve the homeless are trying to meet this need. However, contributions are scarce and competition for funding is increasingly competitive. Anecdotal stories of volunteers serving Thanksgiving meals are not enough.

Today, funders require data to document the need and justify future resources. Data is needed to make informed decisions. When agencies tell their story they need statistics, numbers to prove their program’s effectiveness. When they need statistics on homelessness they turn to the Carolina Homeless Information Network (CHIN), a homeless management information system managed by the North Carolina Housing Coalition (NCHC).

Data from CHIN is used to understand the changing face of homelessness. Currently more than 350 agencies across North Carolina depend on CHIN to enter information on the services and shelter provided to the homeless. As data is gathered it is used to determine an unduplicated count of individuals served. Funders, policy makers, and service organizations rely on CHIN to tell the story. CHIN provides agencies with sophisticated reports that are used for federal, state, and local reporting requirements.

Your contribution to the North Carolina Housing Coalition helps ensure that CHIN will be available for all agencies that seek to help the homeless and precariously housed. The NCHC has quietly become a national leader in addressing the continuum of housing concerns, from homelessness to home owner. No other organization in North Carolina has the vision and capability to make a difference for so many people in need. We need your contribution to help those who are working so tirelessly to help others.

This holiday season, give the gift of knowledge. Your contribution will help the NCHC continue its ground-breaking work, and through your financial assistance, we will change lives.


Best regards,
H. E. "Hunter" Thompson
Carolina Homeless Information Network
North Carolina Housing Coalition

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Contribute to Our Fall Campaign!

The North Carolina Housing Coalition works to help families across the state find and keep safe and affordable housing. Below is a letter from the ARC of North Carolina which describes our partnership and the fruits of our joint efforts.

June 12, 2009 was a big day for 19-year-old Tyler. Not only did he graduate from Salisbury High, but he also moved into his own apartment. He works part-time at a nearby restaurant, and enjoys hosting his parents and brother, as well as his pastor’s family, for dinner. Tyler has a developmental disability, and until fairly recently, a group home may have been his only housing option once he became an adult and moved out of his parent’s home.

David moved in next door on the same day. Though he is 50, he had been living with his elderly parents because he couldn’t find an affordable, wheelchair-accessible apartment. His new apartment features wider doorways, lowered countertops, and a roll-in shower, all of which allow David a greater measure of independence.

People with disabilities like Tyler and David are typically priced out of the housing market and left with inappropriate or unsafe housing options. Without affordable rental options, many people with developmental disabilities remain at home with aging caregivers or move into group homes, even though they do not need this level of supervision. Still others resort to adult care homes, which are often inappropriate as these homes are not designed to meet their needs.

Founded in 1953, The Arc of NC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to securing for all persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to realize their goals and choose where and how they learn, live, work and play. For many years, The NC Housing Coalition has been an invaluable partner in expanding the range of affordable housing choices available to people with disabilities.

Tyler and David live in a new supportive housing project developed by The Arc of NC using the HUD 811 Supportive Housing Program and the NC Housing 400 Program. Created in 2006, the Housing 400 Program finances independent and supportive living units for people with disabilities. The Coalition advocated for both of these programs, and is working to expand the Housing Choice Voucher Program, which will also help mitigate the growing housing crisis for people with disabilities.

The strong advocacy work of the NC Housing Coalition is crucial to increasing the supply of affordable, accessible housing so that David, Tyler and others can fulfill their dream to live as equal partners and valued members of our community. We applaud the Coalition for its work and encourage you to support and further the Coalition’s work by becoming a member or making a personal contribution today.

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Our Fall Annual Campaign has begun!

Below is a letter from a Board member of the NC Housing Coalition, Tharesa Lee.

Tears come to my eyes when I think of my mother moving our Carolina Model home from the Long Point Community to Pollocksville after my father died. If any of you remember Carolina Model homes, you know that it was not much good after it got to Pollocksville. Though, it was a roof over our heads and I am thankful for it to this day.

When I see children living in poverty, it brings back those memories. A child is brought into the world not knowing whether he or she is rich or poor, but before they reach their first birthday it is apparent in many cases. Housing is a poverty issue and it tugs at the very heart of so many around the state, including myself. My story is a personal one and so the tears flow just a little bit easier.

Growing up in Jones County in a dilapidated structure was not a pretty picture. But, this experience helped me understand the critical need for safe, decent and affordable housing. North Carolina citizens are some of the most resourceful, giving, and understanding people I know. I’m always amazed how we come together to help one another. Solving the housing crisis is no different. It will take all of us to connect the dots between housing, poverty, and education. One does not work without the other.

That’s why we, at the Neuse River Community Development Corporation, Inc. (NRCDC), are members of the NC Housing Coalition (NCHC). The Coalition works as a statewide network to help overcome barriers to affordable housing. But they can’t do it alone. When Chris Estes, Executive Director of NCHC, heads to the General Assembly or Washington, DC he needs to be able to say that he has the whole state behind him, from Murphy to Manteo. The Neuse River area is behind him 100 percent.

The Coalition is at the forefront of fighting for issues like fair housing and preventing predatory lending. NCHC helps clarify these issues and continues to advocate on behalf of all North Carolina residents. Advocacy is what defines who we are, how we are going to get to where we need to go, and gives the rest of us the guts to carry out the work.

The Coalition provides continuing education on a variety of subjects dealing with housing throughout the state. Recently, we partnered on a Foreclosure Prevention Workshop that not only provided invaluable information but ultimately led to saving the home of a Craven County woman. The mayor of New Bern attended, Mount Olive College was a gracious host and Chick-fil-a served lunch. I simply mention all of these names, because it goes to the heart of the Coalition and NRCDC, partnerships.

Partnerships are how we get our work done and the Coalition understands this. It supports those of us in the trenches and understands what is happening on a grassroots level. I have recently been talking to some other organizations about joining, because we need a united front. The membership is so reasonable and pays for itself quickly. Please become a part of something larger than yourself. Support statewide housing advocacy. Won’t you make an extra effort to join the Coalition this year or make a personal contribution?

Warm Regards,
Tharesa Lee
NCHC board member and Executive Director of the Neuse River CDC

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Dear friends and supporters:

This letter marks the beginning of the North Carolina Housing Coalition’s first ever annual campaign. As Policy and Outreach Coordinator for the NC Housing Coalition, I not only have the privilege to advocate for affordable housing to our elected leaders, I also have the pleasure of meeting and working with many of you, our partners, around the state. I am humbled by your tireless efforts to provide, promote, and preserve quality affordable housing in your communities. Your work has made it possible for countless individuals and families to attain a place to live with security and pride.

In my time with the NC Housing Coalition, one of the most inspiring groups that I have worked with is also a group with some of our youngest partners. In August, I travelled to Concord to meet with a team of high school students volunteering with Habitat for Humanity of Cabarrus County. The students had come to the conclusion that they needed to bring the housing challenges in their community to the attention of their local and state officials. During my visit, we discussed the state of affordable housing in their community, and the steps that can be taken through local, state and federal policy to affect change. These students used that information to make a presentation to their local elected leaders. The day of the presentation, the conference room at their Habitat affiliate was packed with officials including city council members, county leaders, state representatives, and congressional staffers. The infectious enthusiasm of these young and eager advocates reinforced my belief in the power of advocacy on a local level.
For over 20 years we have supported your efforts through state and federal advocacy, technical assistance, and the distribution of information, research and best practices. In 2009, I joined the staff as part of an initiative to expand our support of affordable housing advocacy on the local level. We now provide staff and technical assistance to local advocacy coalitions in Asheville, Charlotte, and Raleigh, but this is just the first step. Our vision is to expand this work to many more communities around the state. Through local coalition building, we can help communities like yours to build a base of support, advance community education, present recommendations to local officials, promote better land use policies, and ultimately pave the way for providing housing for all who need it. In order to make this vision a reality, we need your help.

In these challenging times, when affordable housing is needed more than ever, I hope that you will consider making a personal gift to the NC Housing Coalition. Your financial support, in any amount, is vital to our campaign for housing that ensures working families, people in crisis, seniors and persons with disabilities may live with dignity and opportunity.

In hope and gratitude,
Carley Ruff
Policy and Outreach Coordinator

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Gov. Perdue signs the Consumer Economic Protection Act

Greeting from Jessica Parker, Social Work Intern

I wanted to give an official greeting to the Housing Coalition members. I am one of two new social work interns at the Coalition from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. My choice of the Coalition as a field placement stemmed from my deep passion for social justice and advocacy work. Previous work experiences in the mental health and social services fields defined this passion into my desire to work in grassroots coalition building and government policy. I realized that in these areas I can affect real change. This organization is a perfect conjunction of these interests.

I am excited about working with the great and knowledgeable staff here at the Coalition. I have already learned a lot about housing policy and the current housing issues in North Carolina. I will be working closely with Carley and John around housing policy and outreach work and the conference in November. I look forward to communicating and working with you all throughout the course of this year.

Best,
Jessica Parker

(Also pictured is Alex Bidot, Social Work Intern)

Legislative Wrap-Up for 2009

The General Assembly wrapped up its 2009 session by passing several pieces of legislation that help advance the issue of affordable housing and respond to the housing crisis in NC. Thank you to our members and the diligent work of Al Ripley and Bill Rowe at the NC Justice Center and Chris Kukla at the Center for Responsible Lending for helping us to achieve the following successes for housing in 2009:

Senate Bill 810, Affordable Housing/No Discrimination, was ratified by the General Assembly and was presented to Governor Perdue on August 5th. This legislation, championed by Senator McKissick of Durham, makes it a violation of the North Carolina Fair Housing Act to discriminate in land-use decisions or permitting of developments based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicapping condition, familial status, or the development contains affordable housing for families or individuals below 80% of area median income. The bill does allow decisions to be based on considerations of over-concentration of affordable housing and other considerations like traffic and environmental concerns. This is landmark legislation as North Carolina is the first state in the nation to include affordable housing as a protected class in its Fair Housing law. Led by Bill Rowe at NC Justice Center, this bill had very strong support from the NC Homebuilders, NC Apartment Association, and NC Realtors.

SB 661, Landlord-Tenant Changes, for the first time, sets minimum standards for rental housing across the state. It will ensure that all units to have safe wiring, flooring, roofs, and chimneys; access to water; operable locks; operable toilets; sources of heat; no rat infestation due to defects in the building; and no flooding problems. This legislation will go a long way in helping local governments address the supply of substandard rental housing that is unhealthy for residents and as well as a barrier to economic development in lower income neighborhoods. Big thanks to Bill Rowe at NC Justice Center and the folks at ACORN for their work on this bill.

House Bill 1586, the Community Land Trust Property Taxation bill, passed the Senate on the very last day that they were in session and has been signed into law by the Governor. It helps to ensure the long-term affordability of Community Land Trust homes by clarifying the tax valuation process. Community Land Trusts, such as those in Durham and Orange Counties, provide sustained affordable housing by placing resale restrictions on the homes within the boundaries of the land trust. HB 1586 guarantees that these resale restrictions are taken into account in the appraisal of homes, so that the homeowners are not overtaxed. It will help support the supply of affordable housing in the state and will result in a more consistent, efficient and equitable system of taxing land trust homes. Thanks to Representative Luebke, and Senator McKissick for their tireless work toward the passage of this bill. Special thanks to Andrew Foster and Matt Lipsky at the Duke Law Clinic, Selina Mack from the Durham Community Land Trust, and Christine Westfall from Orange Community Housing and Land Trust for all of their work drafting, editing and advocating for this bill.

House Bill 148, Congestion Relief/Intermodal Transport, was ratified by the General Assembly and includes a special caveat regarding affordable housing. The bill authorizes referendums for a ½ cent sales tax increase for the Triangle and Triad areas for light rail networks and a ¼ cent authorization for all other counties for bus and other public transport expansion. As transportation and affordable housing are inextricably linked, the bill requires municipalities to plan for 15% of the housing around transportation hubs to be affordable to people at 60% of median area income or below. The popularity of light rail will bring significant gentrification and displacement around the stations. This legislation will help to ensure that low and moderate wage workers and transit dependent individuals can access the light rail network when it is developed.

Other important legislative victories for affordable housing in 2009:

Senate Bill 974 – Consumer Economic Protection Act of 2009 - This important legislation offers homeowners greater protection in the foreclosure process. It also protects all consumers from abusive debt buying and debt collecting activities.

House Bill 806 – Notice on liens for HOA Assessments - This bill requires Home Owners Associations to take stronger steps in maintaining the correct addresses of members. It also requires that HOAs must notify a homeowner 15 days before a lien is filed about any alleged debt. The HOA must also notify the homeowner about a lien once it has been filed.

House Bill 1057 – Abolish Certain Deficiency Judgments - This legislation prohibits deficiency judgments on predatory mortgage loans in North Carolina.

House Bill 1058 – Increase Statutory Homestead Exemption - This act increases the homestead exemption so that individuals with debt can keep their homes rather than having homes sold to satisfy a judgment. It increases the exemption from $18,500 to $35,000.

Funding
The 2009 budget process was a very difficult one, with over a $4B deficit just to fund current programs and enrollment growth and Medicaid spending. We worked very hard at the beginning of the session to advocate for more funding for the NC Housing Trust Fund during the time of NC’s greatest housing crisis. While we could not secure any additional funding we were able to protect the recurring funding already in place for the Housing Trust Fund and the Home Protection Program from being cut any further. This was one of the few areas to escape percentage cuts. This means that the Housing Trust Fund received $10M recurring and the Home Protection Program received $3M recurring. The legislature also provided over $1.5M for the HOME matched needed by NCHFA for federal HOME funding.

The big loss was the $7M in non-recurring funds for the Housing 400 program in the Housing Trust Fund. Obviously, we hope to resume this program’s funding as soon as possible, but next year’s budget expects to be just as bad, if not worse, in terms of deficits.

The major opportunity still in front of us is the federal budget process and the potential of funding from the National Housing Trust Fund. Congress will resume housing budget discussions in September, and we will be looking for your help in advocating for increased housing funding.

Carley Ruff
Policy and Outreach Coordinator

An Inspiration for Housing Advocacy in Cabarrus County

It is often said that wisdom comes with age, but I have discovered that truly, wisdom knows no age…

Recently, I had the great opportunity to spend time with a group of high school students volunteering with Habitat for Humanity of Cabarrus County. They are the steering committee for the Youth United Program, an initiative in which youth sponsor and build a Habitat home. However, these young leaders have gone above and beyond the call of duty. In addition to the hard work of fundraising and construction, they have discovered the important role of advocacy in accomplishing Habitat’s mission.

Last year, the Youth United group was disheartened to discover that their local Habitat for Humanity affiliate would not be able to build as many homes and serve as many families as it had the year before, because of shrinking funds. The students realized that this problem might be avoided if there were more state and federal dollars devoted to the development of affordable housing. With the help of Habitat Cabarrus, they decided to take the matter into their own hands and hold an informational forum for their local, state, and federal elected officials to let them know of the issue. Prior to the event, the steering committee invited Chris Estes, from our organization, to come and share information about housing needs and data for North Carolina. They used that information to fashion a presentation for the forum.

Because of the success last year’s event, the steering committee was eager to hold another in 2009. I had the pleasure of holding an advocacy workshop with the group, as Chris did last year. I shared information about the importance of advocacy, housing data for North Carolina and Cabarrus County, and the legislative priorities of the NC Housing Coalition as well as Habitat for Humanity International. The students used that information, as well as their own research and experience to make a presentation to their local elected leaders last Friday. The conference room was packed with officials including city council members, county leaders, Representative Linda Johnson, and Deputy District Director for Congressman Larry Kissell.

As a younger person working in housing advocacy, I am certainly aware of the fear and intimidation that comes with addressing elected officials. Will I be taken seriously? Will they care what I have to say? These inspiring students have not let their fear get the better of them, quite the opposite actually. They are using their enthusiasm and knowledge to make a positive impact. If we all had the drive, passion, and clarity of thought of these young leaders -- what a world this would be!

Everyone, at any age, deserves a safe, decent, affordable place to live. Just the same, we can advocate for housing whether we are five or ninety-five.

Thank you to our Youth United friends in Cabarrus County for keeping us all inspired!

Carley Ruff
Policy and Outreach Coordinator

Chris talks about the foreclosure crisis on NC Now

Home Saved from Foreclosure

Who would have imagined that attending a workshop could change the rest of your life...

That’s exactly what happened to a 72 year old Craven County resident who was 10 months behind on her mortgage when she walked into a foreclosure prevention training sponsored and coordinated by the NC Housing Coalition and the City of New Bern. For the sake of keeping her name anonymous, we’ll call her “Mrs. P”. Mrs. P listened attentively as one by one, speakers from NC Commissioner of Banks (NCCOB), HUD and Legal Aid of NC took the podium. Mrs. P sat quietly as she noticed that questions from the audience were coming from housing servicers and realtors... not homeowners (like her). Nevertheless, Mrs. P felt a glimmer of hope and a sense of refuge while being addressed by professionals, educating the audience seated before them.

As she listened to how NC Commissioner of Banks’ “State Home Foreclosure Prevention Project” is sometimes able to get a stay (postponement) on a foreclosure and how HUD’s “Making Home Affordable Program” could offer a loan modification, and how Legal Aid of NC’s “Mortgage Foreclosure Project” saves homes using legal defense... she became as optimistic as ever. She made sure she spoke with each presenter before leaving.

The following day, a Craven County sheriff knocked on Mrs. P’s door, serving her a notice of the foreclosure hearing and sale. Mrs. P was crushed, knowing she could lose her home within weeks! She contacted me that afternoon and I put her in touch with several agencies about possible options to save her home. We found out that the NCCOB had been working on Mrs. P’s case since the day of the workshop. They were able to get a 30 day extension on the foreclosure hearing and sale. In the meantime, not giving up, Mrs. P completed a counseling session by phone, which made her eligible for the “Making Home Affordable Program”.

In less than two weeks after attending this workshop, Mrs. P’s mortgage loan had been modified to a payment that she could afford (not more than 31% of her income). More excitingly is the fact that her insurance payments, city and county taxes are now escrowed into this lower payment (unlike before). Mrs. P is SAVING approximately $700 per month and her home has been saved! All of the services Mrs. P received were FREE!

Regina Green
Foreclosure Prevention Coordinator

Grand Opening of Fairview Pointe Apartments

Hi Folks,

Welcome back to our blog! We have some great news to share. The Fairview Pointe Apartments, a new multi-family affordable housing complex, just opened on Monday, in Lillington. Congratulations to our Investor Council Member, Fred Mills, who was the contractor on the project! They're absolutely gorgeous and the playground is just begging for little kids to come and play.

I drove down to Lillington for a festive, if wet, ribbon cutting ceremony. The Housing Finance Agency did a wonderful job organizing this event. Congressman Etheridge and Senator Blake were also on hand to say a few words and check out the new face of affordable housing.

As one of the newer staff members, it was great for me to see the product of all the hard work. These apartments were partially funded by the Housing Trust Fund and are a Tax Credit Development. Meeting a few of the residents who have already moved in was heart warming. You can't help but get excited for someone who just moved into a new home! Check it out at www.upmapartments.com and select Fairview Pointe.

Take care,
Anne Ehlers
Communications and Development Coordinator