North Carolina Housing Coalition

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

Please click here to donate.