Housing

A growing number of Charlotte families find themselves struggling to find or maintain safe and affordable housing and a number of Charlotte neighborhoods grapple with the effects of deteriorating housing conditions. There are more than 3,000 homeless children within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Not only is this unacceptable for a vibrant community like Charlotte, it also puts enormous strain on city, county and school system budgets for many years to come.

Throughout his time on City Council, Anthony Foxx has challenged the city to develop a strong housing strategy and has been a tireless advocate for additional support of the Housing Trust Fund. As Mayor of Charlotte, Foxx will be committed to developing a more comprehensive approach to housing, leveraging the resources of government with the resources of the faith community, non-profits and private sector.

The Record

• In 2006, advocated finding ways the city could help families having trouble paying home mortgage loans.
• Pushed for including or increasing affordable housing in city-subsidized projects such as Second Ward, Scaleybark and Double Oaks.
• Tirelessly fought to increase the city’s budget for affordable housing.
• Consistently supported rental registration program to protect families and neighborhoods from absentee landlords.
• Worked to develop a plan to meet the $30 million affordable housing commitment requested by the Housing Trust Fund Board in 2008 without raising taxes or eliminating critical infrastructure projects.
• In June of 2007, fought sale of two city-owned single family homes when they could have been used to close the affordable housing gap.
• Consistently voted to continue the Housing Trust Fund and to increase the city’s support for the fund.
• Identified resources within existing city budget to fund the Workforce Initiative for Supportive Housing (WISH) Program to provide critical housing and supportive services for families to get back on their feet.

 

The Vision

• Pass An Incentive-Based Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance

Anthony supports the recommendation of Housing Charlotte 2007, an incentive-based inclusionary zoning approach, as a partial solution to the concentrations of poverty that challenge Charlotte neighborhoods.

• Encourage More Innovation Through The Housing Trust Fund (HTF)

Support Wraparound Services

We will never be able to build our way out of the housing shortage we face. That is why we must employ other strategies besides construction to meet the needs of our citizens. We need to continue to support rental assistance programs like WISH that address the problems at a much lower cost.

Allow Private Support of Charlotte’s Housing Trust Fund

Anthony would increase private support of the Housing Trust Fund (HTF) by establishing it as a non-profit agency, enabling the HTF to receive financial and in-kind support from private agencies and individuals with favorable tax treatment.

Increase City Commitment to Housing Trust Fund

As an elected official, Foxx has to ensure the continuation of the Housing Trust Fund. As he did in 2008, he will work to meet our housing needs by dedicating a portion of the property tax to meeting the capital and supportive services needed to close the housing gap and help needy citizens get back on their feet without raising the property tax rate or eliminating critical infrastructure projects. Foxx will push for at least one-third of the trust fund resources to be used to provide shelter and supportive services for our homeless population.

• Attack Poverty By Creating Accessible Jobs

Having led the development of the Business Corridor Revitalization Strategy, Foxx understands that the lack of employment opportunities means many market-rate apartments are out of reach for Charlotte’s working poor. Foxx will continue working to expand private sector opportunity and job growth in challenged areas of Charlotte -- where many citizens on the margins will find a chance to work and the dignity associated with taking care of their families.

• Partner To Meet Human Services Needs

The recent dialogue about shrinking resources to meet area human services needs directly impacts those who require housing assistance. We have many organizations with hundreds of hard-working people dealing with our housing issues. However, many operate in silos without being connected by a common vision and strategy. Working in partnership with these organizations, Anthony will work to coordinate resources and priorities to promote efficiency and effectiveness in meeting our housing needs.

• Focus on Prevention

We need to focus more of our efforts on preventing our citizens from falling into circumstances that require the need for housing assistance. There are many effective strategies being employed in Charlotte and other communities that help families and save the community money in the long run, and we need to bring those programs to Charlotte.

• Rehabilitate Existing Housing Stock

With a strong track record of supporting rehabilitating existing housing stock, Foxx will continue to leverage federal and local dollars to recapture single-family and multi-family dwellings that can provide a safe, affordable place to live.

• Encourage Green Affordable Housing Development

By offering fast-track permitting to sustainable facilities and other incentives, Foxx will work to make affordable housing green, passing the savings in monthly heating, cooling and water bills to low-income families.

• Put the “Public” Back in Public-Private Partnership

Ensure that public-private partnerships in non-prohibited areas contain an affordable housing component.

• Maintain Fiscal Accountability

Foxx will work to make Charlotte affordable for all families without sacrificing critical city functions such as police and fire services and infrastructure improvement.