After months of anticipation, the 2020 election has come to a close. We are excited to report that North Carolinians made their voices heard at the ballot box, with a voter turnout rate of 75.3 percent, an increase of over six percent from 2016! 

Why do election results matter?

Elected officials at all levels of government influence affordable housing. Ongoing decisions, like state or federal appropriations for affordable housing programs may be changed by our updated legislatures. The choices made by our lawmakers have a significant impact on us and our community. 

Everyone deserves the personal and economic stability of a safe, affordable home.

For a home to be affordable, housing expenses must be less than 30 percent of a family's income. In Wake and Johnston counties, one in four families spends too much of their income on housing, leaving little left over for other necessities like food, transportation, education and healthcare.

As the economic impacts of COVID-19 continue to unfold, the number of families struggling to make ends meet will only grow, creating an even more urgent need for better housing solutions.

By Habitat Wake President & CEO, Bill Ahern

Each year, tens of thousands of people in our community come together to build Habitat homes. Donors, volunteers, faith groups, and of course, the Habitat home buyers themselves, frame walls, shingle roofs and put up siding. Our homes, which are beautiful and affordable, are the work of many hands. They are the work of people in our community who show up for their neighbors.

Our advocacy team at Habitat Wake has worked hard to collect information on North Carolina's 2020 General Assembly candidates and their stances on affordable housing.  

We hope you use this resource to 1.) find your candidates and 2.) discover how they will prioritize the needs of families in your district.

Even after the election is over, it will be helpful to know how we can support our legislators and provide accountability in the years to come. 

Raleigh voters will consider a bond for affordable housing during this year’s election. If passed, the bond will generate $80 million in funding to create housing opportunities for Raleigh residents.

Habitat Wake supports the Affordable Housing Bond and we encourage you to vote YES to increase access to affordable housing in Raleigh. 

Elections give you the power to set priorities on the issues most important to you for years to come. With 1 in 4 families in Wake and Johnston counties spending too much of their income on housing and COVID-19 putting a strain on renters, homeowners, and people experiencing homelessness across the country, housing is an issue that needs attention.

Elected officials serve as our connection to government, so the candidates you vote for matter. When casting your ballot this November, know that your vote will be shaping the future of affordable housing in our community. 

COVID-19 is creating hardship for renters and homeowners across the country. In North Carolina, 43% of renter households are at risk of eviction and there is a looming foreclosure crisis for homeowners. Negotiations are underway right now in Congress to provide additional relief to families and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We need your help to ensure that housing relief is a top priority. 

Raleigh Proposes an Affordable Housing Bond

The City of Raleigh is facing an affordable housing crisis. With 1 in 4 families spending too much of their income on housing, neighborhoods in need of revitalization, and the cost of land on the rise, the City is looking for ways to improve home affordability in Raleigh. 

Advocacy Win!