A voice to be heard and a story to be told

Last Wednesday, the NC Housing Coalition headed to the heart of Harnett County, Lillington, North Carolina. We were on a mission to resume the Postcard Project, an ongoing initiative to convince our legislators that the NC Housing Trust Fund needs a dedicated revenue source. We believe that our legislators need to hear from those who have a safe, affordable place to call their own because of the NC Housing Trust Fund, so we went to Fairview Pointe and Fairview Manor, two housing developments built by money from the NC Housing Trust Fund.

As we approached Fairview Pointe and Fairview Manor, we were immediately taken aback by the beautiful buildings and peaceful atmosphere and could not help but notice the camaraderie among residents. At Fairview Manor, seniors gathered in the lobby to socialize and read newspapers, while children at Fairview Pointe rode bikes with their friends on the sidewalks.

The high temperatures did not stop residents from coming outside to get their pictures taken for the postcards. Not long after we set up our equipment, residents began asking questions and wanting to learn more about our project. They joined us for snacks while filling out postcards to send to Rep. David Lewis, Rep. Mike Stone, Sen. Harris Blake, Sen. Fletcher Hartsell, Sen. Bill Rabon, Sen. Bob Rucho, Sen. Tom Apodaca, and Sen. Kathy Harrington.

From single-parent families to individuals with disabilities to survivors of domestic violence, the residents of Fairview Pointe and Fairview Manor were eager to share their stories with us so that their voices could be heard by legislators. Some residents wanted to tell their legislators how they found themselves at Fairview Pointe and Fairview Manor:

"I went through domestic violence. During that emotional time, the NC Housing Trust Fund really is greatly appreciated. I am a single parent, and I am thankful for all that they do."

"I need affordable housing because I was displaced by Hurricane Katrina."

"Hopefully one day, homeless people can get off the streets, like I was at one time."

Other residents showed appreciation for the housing that they have in an effort to convince the legislators that North Carolina needs more affordable housing:

"Me and my daughter love living here. It is a very nice place to live. It is clean and safe."

"I really appreciate that people on a fixed income can find affordable, quality housing due to this trust fund."

"The affordability of nice, low-income housing is the best thing that has happened in this section of Harnett County."

Every resident's voice deserves to be heard, especially by the legislators, who are the ones that make decisions about the revenue source of the NC Housing Trust Fund. In addition, every resident's story deserves to be told. We are glad that the Postcard Project serves as a means to do both.

Check out these pictures of the residents in front of their homes, which were built by money from the NC Housing Trust Fund!

A picture is worth a thousand words…

If you read our last blog post, you learned about why the North Carolina Housing Trust Fund is necessary for providing affordable homes in our state. In short, the Housing Trust Fund helps rehabilitate and preserve the existing housing stock in North Carolina and also creates new affordable housing. However, as you know, the Trust Fund receives inadequate funding, and the focus of the Campaign for Housing Carolina is to secure a dedicated revenue source for the NC Housing Trust Fund.

We wanted to let everyone know about our recent undertaking, the Postcard Project, which showcases how the NC Housing Trust Fund has given individuals and families a place they can call their own. We created the Postcard Project because we want lawmakers to witness the past successes of the Trust Fund, and the project is an effort to show lawmakers the faces of residents whose lives have been changed from housing provided by the Trust Fund.

Here’s the lowdown on how the Postcard Project works: At the housing developments, we host a get-together for the residents. At the get-together, we take pictures of families and individuals living in the housing and put them on the postcards to send to legislators. Each person signs a postcard for every legislator in their county and for the chairs of key committees. Then, we let the residents tell their stories by writing personal messages on the cards. So far, the NC Housing Coalition has traveled across the state to the housing developments of Brookridge, Maplewood Square, Hunters Hill, and Nia Point and to construction agencies that build affordable housing, such as Weaver Cooke and Village Crossing. To date, we have mailed approximately 1,007 postcards to 59 legislators representing 14 counties with many more to come.

Also at the get-togethers, we provide snacks, drinks, and activities for the children. In addition to being an opportunity for the residents to learn more about how to ensure that more affordable housing is built, the event serves as a way to build community. It is so touching to witness the smiling faces of residents and their appreciation for their homes, and although we cannot disclose pictures of the residents, we wanted to share a couple of photos of the housing developments from our past visits.

The photo above is from the opening of Brookridge in Raleigh, NC. (Developer: DHIC)

Above: Maplewood Square in Durham, NC, is a housing development for seniors. (Developer: DHIC)

Above: Nia Point in Charlotte, NC, is a housing development for families. (Developer: Crosland)

Above: Weaver Cooke in Greensboro, NC, is a construction agency. (Developer: Weaver Cooke)

This week, the Postcard Project will take us to Lillington, North Carolina, to visit Fairview Pointe and Fairview Manor, two housing developments for families and seniors, respectively. Thanks to Mills Construction, the developer, and United Property Management for helping organize the event. Stay tuned for an update!