Affordable Housing

Stewarding the boundless talents of those who serve alongside Habitat Wake is a distinct honor, and this is certainly the case in the legacy of Si Seiler, a long-time member of our Force of Habitat who passed away earlier this month. 

The Supreme Court ruled yesterday to overturn the eviction moratorium, meaning that landlords can begin evictions for residents behind on rent. This decision puts the over 6 million households behind on their rent at risk of losing their shelter amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Two weeks ago, just as our Habitat Wake employees were preparing to have a celebratory in-person staff meeting for the first time in a year and a half, news of the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus added new complexity. It was a massive letdown after missing the opportunity to gather safely for such a long time. We acted in each other’s best interests, pivoting to a virtual meeting, banding together and refusing to be deterred in our mission.

This week, the North Carolina House of Representatives released its version of the state budget, which includes a $20 million allocation towards Habitat for Humanity NC to fund much-needed affordable housing, along with over $260 million for additional affordable housing projects. Now that the House and Senate have both released their versions of the state budget, the two chambers will negotiate what is in the final budget through a process called reconciliation.   

We are very excited to welcome our new Director of Advocacy, Jacquie Ayala! 

For the past year, housing advocates have warned of a wave of evictions due to COVID-19, and families are bracing for the impact. The CDC’s eviction moratorium is set to expire on July 31, which means that millions of renters may be displaced from their homes very soon.  

We are pleased to announce four new members of our Board of Directors. We are confident that the expertise and connections these individuals bring will bolster our plans for the new fiscal year '22.   

Bob Kucab, retired, North Carolina Housing Finance Agency  

In the year since George Floyd’s murder, Habitat Wake staff and partners have banded together like never before. We took opportunities for collective and individual grief, prayer and reflection. 

The pandemic recovery for this community has a much steeper climb than the rest of Raleigh and much of North Carolina.

Families across North Carolina have been experiencing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, but not at the same rates. Southeast Raleigh is leading the state in COVID-19 cases, totaling over 7,500 cases in the 26710 zip code. This heightened rate of infection is connected to several factors and is worrisome for the long-term health and general well-being of families in the community.