WakeUP Wake County Endorses Raleigh Affordable Housing Bond
Citizens Supporting Raleigh Bond Campaign Committee:
Raleigh is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis that is significantly impacting
renters, members of our communities of color, and those with extremely low incomes. While fully addressing this problem will require continued long-term investment and planning, the $80 million Affordable Housing Bond on the ballot this fall is a major step in the right direction.
WakeUP Wake County endorses the ballot referendum because we believe this bond is the best tool available at this time for helping residents secure and maintain safe, quality, affordable housing in Raleigh.
Nearly one-third of Raleigh households are either moderately or severely burdened by housing costs and at least 5,000 households are living in overcrowded homes. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, these unstable housing situations increase the risk of disease exposure, as families may be forced to choose between housing and health care costs, or live in close proximity to more people within a household. Given the urgency of the problem, we need a comprehensive, forward-thinking approach to housing. We are therefore glad the Affordable Housing Bond includes a suite of fundable programs to create new affordable housing units, preserve naturally occurring affordable housing, and build wealth in historically underserved communities. With effective transit-oriented development policies, standards for developing affordable housing in all neighborhoods, and workforce development training, we are optimistic the Affordable Housing Bond will help make Raleigh a more equitable and more affordable place to live.
The bond will also underscore the need for a larger community conversation about how best to prioritize people and responsible planning moving forward. Unfortunately, many struggling families will not feel the benefits of the bond right away. The entire Raleigh community — from residents and business leaders to developers and city officials — will therefore need to work together to develop more immediate solutions to the many housing challenges that bond money alone cannot fix.
WakeUP urges Raleigh voters to vote “Yes” to approve the Affordable Housing Bond on the back of their ballots this November.
Housing affordability is a community-wide issue that affects every one of us. As such, it requires a city-wide response, where everyone shares responsibility, and no one is left out of the decision-making process. To voters concerned about Raleigh’s housing crisis, that means the next — but by no means last — thing you need to do is vote “Yes” to approve the Affordable Housing Bond this November.
Sincerely,
Susan Parry
Board of Directors, Chair, WakeUP Wake County