New affordable housing units could be on the way in High Point

HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) — Sixty new affordable housing units could be on the way in High Point, chipping away at a larger Triad-wide need.

“We’re short at least 10,000-plus units when it comes to those households that are at the lower income bands,” Community Development and Housing Director Thanena Wilson said.

Wynnefield Properties is developing a new affordable complex at the corner of Old Winston Road and University Parkway behind the Walmart on North Main Street.

The units will be available for households with an income of 80% or below the area median income. Twelve of those units will be available for households earning 50% or below.

The site will also include a community room, computer center and playground.

According to Wilson, Wynnefield Properties has six affordable housing projects in the city, and two of those are focused on seniors.

Leaders say properties like this help a hardworking class of people like teachers, firefighters and police officers who are getting priced out of other properties.

“Incomes certainly aren’t keeping up with our housing costs,”Wilson said. “A lot of units that were affordable, the property owners have converted to those at market rate or at least increased the rent, so pricing out those individuals who were in those apartments before or those rental properties.”

Wilson says the city is currently going through proposal requests for a city-wide housing study.

The study will look at the housing needs of people at all income levels. They’re hoping to go through the results at the end of 2024 or early 2025.

Public and private partners are also exploring the idea of a private fund to help developers fill in funding gaps for affordable housing projects.

There’s no timeline or funding goal just yet.

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