January 22, 2021 | Jule Picot
This year’s election will be a big and unusual one. To keep affordable housing at the top of our community’s agenda, we need YOUR help! As political campaigns evolve, there is still a lot we can do to educate candidates, community members and voters to keep hammering away at affordable housing.
- Vote YES for housing bonds! The severe demand for affordable housing requires a lot of money. Smart allocation of these funds enables our community to finance the varying aspects of affordable housing development.
- Let candidates know affordable housing is important to you. As a voter your perspective is the most important one. Let candidates know this is something you went them to work on.
- Ask candidates questions!
- When in office, what will you do to support affordable housing?
- What housing issues are important to you, and how will you work on with other levels of government to solve these issues?
- How does affordable housing relate to the rest of your platform?
- What role can affordable housing play to increase racial equity and address the racial wealth gap in housing?
At the state-level, suggest the following to candidates…
- Appropriate state funds to prevent COVID-19 related foreclosures.
- Update and enhance Homestead Exemptions for Seniors, Veterans, and individuals with disabilities.
- Institute a state Earned Income Tax Credit.
In Mecklenburg County, press officials to…
- Support for funding for Critical Home Repair as a step towards preventing homelessness and senior displacement.
- Make sure the property tax burden is equitably felt throughout the county.
- Assess tools at the county’s disposal that can help with the housing crisis, such as its housing code, then leverage these tools.
- Consider creative uses for county owned land that include affordable housing solutions.
Learn more about affording housing in the Charlotte region: