Deb Hays, Vice Chair for the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners, has been appointed to the National Association of Counties (NACo) Housing Task Force by NACo President Denise Winfrey.
This new task force will bring together more than 30 county leaders from the across the United States to identify county-led solutions and innovations for addressing America’s housing affordability and stability crisis. It will explore intergovernmental partnerships that support housing solutions among federal, state and local officials, along with private, nonprofit, and homeownership and rental partners.
“Being selected to serve on any NACo committee is an honor, but this in particular has a very special meaning as housing affordability is a major issue facing our community,” Hays said. “Our county has made a lot of great strides lately, and I’m excited to share those workforce housing programs and successes with the group. I also look forward to learning more about what others have done to help serve their communities and working to identify comprehensive solutions to increase housing opportunities that are affordable for all of our residents.”
Affordable housing continues to be a priority for the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. In October, Commissioners approved $3 million in funding to help create 152 workforce housing units through a pair of projects. This funding is part of a five-year, $15 million commitment by Commissioners to improve workforce and affordable housing stock in the county.
Additionally, the county is providing $1.89 million in gap financing to help bring 278 affordable housing units to the community as part of Starway Village, in partnership with the City of Wilmington and the N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency, to help keep costs down and ensure affordable pricing for residents upon completion.
The county has also funded water and sewer infrastructure for the creation of affordable housing, assisted nonprofit housing programs through the county’s annual budget, created housing programs to help residents with rent, gap financing, and mortgage assistance, and donated numerous properties to Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity for the creation of affordable homes, including 14 acres of land in Wrightsboro.
Hays’ involvement on NACo’s Housing Task Force will further New Hanover County’s continued efforts to explore ways to bring more affordable housing opportunities into the community. The group will be tasked to produce original research and examine the role of county governments in providing residents with more housing, greater variety of housing, and better housing affordability and value.
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