Carolina Across 100 begins focus on housing

UNC-Chapel Hill’s Carolina Across 100 initiative announced its fifth program this week: Our State, Our Homes: Partnering to Address Housing Needs in North Carolina. The program receives support from the UNC School of Government’s Development Finance Initiative and other campus partners.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, an estimated 30% of North Carolina households either struggle to afford their homes or are living in substandard and/or overcrowded housing. For low- and moderate-income households, the share of households with housing needs jumps to nearly 85%.

“In surveys and conversations across North Carolina, community leaders have named housing as one of the top challenges they face today,” said Anita Brown-Graham, lead coordinator of Carolina Across 100 and ncIMPACT director. “Many of these leaders voice concerns that the tight housing market in the state will negatively impact local job creation, retention and productivity. With the vast expertise of faculty, staff and students in many subject areas, UNC is well-positioned to support our communities as they consider the many implications of housing markets.”

Over the course of this 18-month program, Carolina Across 100 will bring together entities from across campus to facilitate cross-sector collaboration among selected community teams comprised of a diverse set of stakeholders including local government agencies, housing developers, builders, financial institutions, supportive service providers, employers, faith-based and community organizations and more.

Communities that wish to apply for the program must submit an online application by Oct. 18, 2024.

Because housing is a multifaceted challenge, this program will bring together leaders from a wide range of experiences and disciplines. Partners from across the University, including the College of Arts and Sciences’ city and regional planning department, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and the UNC School of Medicine, will be active in sharing research and expertise throughout this pan-University effort.

“Carolina Across 100 is one of the many ways that Carolina partners with communities to respond to critical challenges facing the people of North Carolina,” said Chancellor Lee H. Roberts. “By working alongside local leaders who share their ideas and experiences, we are developing answers together. Housing needs are pervasive across our state and this new program will bring resources and expertise from across Carolina to help communities respond to those needs.”

Through this program, participating communities will deepen their understanding of housing issues in their local contexts, learn about tools to improve community conversations around housing needs, identify local partners and resources, and increase knowledge and capacity to implement strategies for improving housing affordability. The information will be shared publicly to help additional communities in North Carolina address their housing needs.

“With limited supply, rising costs, and other issues, meeting local needs for safe, accessible and affordable housing is a challenge for community leaders,” said Marcia Perritt, DFI director. “We are eager to bring them together in this statewide effort to learn from each other, sharing ideas and building the tools, resources and connections we need to advance local progress on addressing housing needs.”

“The cornerstone of any successful community housing initiative has always been the collective action of key stakeholders — builders, landlords, residents, faith communities, governments and charitable organizations,” said Tyler Mulligan, faculty lead for DFI and the David M. Lawrence Distinguished Professor of Public Law and Government. “This initiative aims to bring those stakeholders together, helping them unite around the most pressing housing issues facing their community today and empowering them to launch collaborative efforts tailored to the unique social and economic realities of their community.”