Over half of New Hanover County renters have difficulty affording their homes, according to the North Carolina Housing Coalition, but the county and a local nonprofit have been working to address the crisis.
When it comes to homeowners, 23% of county residents have difficulty affording their homes, according to the 2024 Housing Need in New Hanover County.
The county recently announced that it will be accepting its third year of applicants for affordable and workforce housing project funding. This is part of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners' five-year commitment to providing $3 million each year, $15 million in total, for the projects.
On Thursday, New H.O.P.E CDC., which stands for Helping Ordinary People Excel, led by Pastor of New Beginning Christian Church Robert Campbell, announced the first distribution of funds from a $500,000 rental assistance grant provided by the county commissioners.
The funds have been able to help 32 New Hanover County families in the workforce meet their rental obligations and there are plans to help 40 more families in the next round of applications, which opens at 8 a.m. July 18 and will close at midnight July 21. The program is eligible for those who are employed and live in the county and is for those who's income is 60% to 120% of the area median income.
Campbell said that when applications opened for the first round of funding, New H.O.P.E CDC had over 500 people apply within three days.
In the first round of assistance, the organization was able to provide funds to a nurse, a teacher, a school counselor, a dental technician, an executive assistant and an accountant, which were in situations where they needed support due to unexpected emergency expenses.
"Many folks are only one emergency bill away from being in real financial trouble," Campbell said.
While those with low incomes are still a priority for both entities by working to provide more affordable housing, workforce housing addresses the need among those in the mid-income range. Workforce housing is a niche that not many people are reaching, Campbell said in a news release.
Currently, the average elementary school teacher makes $48,150, a childcare worker makes $22,410 and a firefighter makes $30,210 annually. According to the state housing coalition, a household in New Hanover County needs an income of $60,600 per year to be able to afford the Fair Market Rent.
The hourly wage needed for a Fair Market Rent apartment is $29.13 and the monthly Fair Market Rent is $1,515 per month, which has increased by 20% in the past year and 51% in the past five years.
The requests for proposals for county-funded projects will be available for nonprofit and for-profit developers and agencies that fit the criteria outlined in the county’s Workforce Housing Service Program, which was built around findings from the county and city of Wilmington’s joint Comprehensive Housing Study.
Campbell's Covenant Senior Housing was one of those county-funded projects, which will be a 68-unit development that serves low-income households for those 55 and older, was one of the county's fiscal year 2022-23 projects. The county awarded $1.5 million to the project.
County Commissioner Jonathan Barfield Jr. spoke at the press conference in support of the work that Campbell and his team are doing as well as the partnership the team has with the county.
"It's just outstanding," Barfield said. "I'm looking forward to seeing all the families that will be served and could be served."
Developers and agencies can apply through the county's website until Aug. 5.
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