People who live in homes that cost a large portion of their income, or where there is overcrowding or poor maintenance, are exposed to a variety of health risk factors. In many areas of Wake County there are insufficient affordable, quality housing options for low-income people and their families.

Housing instability encompasses several challenges, such as having trouble paying rent, overcrowding, moving frequently, staying with relatives, or spending the bulk of household income on housing. These experiences may negatively affect physical health and make it harder to access health care. Limited affordable housing options directly coincide with homelessness. Persons experiencing homelessness have higher rates of health problems like mental illness, substance misuse, HIV, tuberculosis, and other conditions. Health problems among homeless persons result from many issues like barriers to healthcare, food insecurity, and limited social services resources.

COVID-19 has significantly impacted an already depressed housing system. The described strategies aim to minimize the effects of homeless and precariously housed Wake County residents.

The following strategies aim to reduce housing disparities:

1. Support implementation of House Wake! COVID Response and Recovery Plan and Wake County Consolidated Housing Plan.

2. Sustain and expand countywide homeless and housing support policies/systems changes expanded through COVID recovery funding streams.

3. Expand access to new affordable housing units and permanent supportive housing.

4. Conduct a multiphase community education campaign aiming to disseminate resources, supports, and information related to housing continuum topics like homelessness, emergency shelter, affordable housing options, permanent housing, and permanent supportive housing.

Wake County's Department of Housing Affordability & Community Revitalization

Wake County's Department of Housing Affordability & Community Revitalization is comprised of three distinct Divisions, each offering a wide-range of services to help Wake County residents gain and maintain safe, affordable housing.

Divisions:

Equitable Housing & Community Development Division 

Homeless & Prevention Services Division 

Permanent Housing & Support Services Division 

Comprehensive Affordable Housing Plan 

Adopted in October of 2017 and funded with a historic $15M investment, this plan's goal is to ensure quality affordable housing for all Wake County residents. Strategic tools focus on improving land use policies, enhancing programs that create or preserve housing affordability, and increasing public resources to meet housing challenges.

House Wake Strategic Plan 

This eight-month strategic plan utilizes and coordinates federal, state and local funding to address the COVID-19 crisis within our homeless and precariously housed population and aims to move the maximum number of individuals possible to housing stability. 

• Outreach
• Basic Needs Services
• Housing Navigation & Landlord Engagement
• Coordinated Intake One-Number Access Line
• Rapid Re-Housing
• Hotels to Housing Program
• Full Furnishings for 500 Newly Housed Households
• Increased Shelter Capacity
• Case Management
• Affordable Housing Unit Renovation
• Eviction Prevention Three-Step Intervention Process

Click here to view the Affordable Housing Plan 

Click here to view the Fair Housing Action Plan 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the workgroup paused and many efforts coordinated were continued through the Wake County's Department of Housing Affordability & Community Revitalization.