Service Groups and Faith Alliance
September 20, 2022
Meeting Minutes
Affordable Housing in Apex
Attendees:
Officer Kenneth Copeland; Niki Miller, Shield NC ; Phil Welch, Town of Apex-Affordable Housing; Nicole Bernard, Shield NC; Kerry Crespo, Cary Church; George Greene, Pastor Christian Home CC, Karen Morant, Wake HHS; Jennifer Roeder; DebVinci, Shield NC
Introduction
Kenneth provided overview of the group and introduced Phil Welch who shared with the group regarding the Town of Apex Affordable Housing Plan & FY 2021-2022 Annual Housing Report.
Phil Welch, Chair, Apex Housing Advisory Board and Chair, Western Region Affordable Housing Action Group Advocacy Team
P2twelch@gmail.com 919-355-2971
Phil shared the path that brought him to this role and his passion for the need for housing.
His mission is the education on each town’s plan and bring in local social service groups, best practices and build leadership. The focus will be in 3 parts today:
Part I Apex Affordable Housing Plan Overview
Part II Apex Annual Housing Report FY2021-22
Part III Support Opportunities for Social Service Agencies and Faith Communities
PART I
Definition of Affordable Housing:
Housing costs less than 30% of total income
Greater than this results in Housing Cost Burdened making them have to make choices for food, transportation, healthcare, childcare etc.
Income and Size are determinators of Affordable Housing
- Median Income approx. $100,000
- Housing needs in Apex:
- 2000-unit deficit in rentals for essential workers
Rental home gap project to double in 10 years
- Lack of starter homes
- Not attracting, retaining diverse population
- Forcing out seniors on limited incomes
- Not enough subsidized housing
Public Survey – 1200 responses: balanced with diverse demographic, young couple had trouble finding housing; 60/40 to change things vs not to
Who needs affordable housing
- Everyone
- Essential workers
- Specific populations in need of homes: seniors, veterans, single parents, families with special needs individuals
Questions:
Needs for housing and jobs needed correlation…less than 10% who live in Apex work in Apex
Is this a more recent problem? Known as a good place to live and drawing people from all over the country causing stress on the resources.
PART II
Annual Housing report
Near term and mid to long term recommendations
Near:
- Staff Capacity
- Housing Ad Boards
- AH Incentive zoning policy
- Owner-occupied rehab assistance Apex Cares
- Low income housing tax credit Broadstone Walk (DHIC 164 units beginning late 2022) = families and Abbey Spring (Evergreen) 84 units; tax credit approval by end of September – Seniors
Mid :
- Annual housing report
- Online housing dashboard
- Diversity and racial equity initiative
- Affordable housing advocacy partners
- Support for homeownership
- Public land acquisition and sale
- Transit-oriented development density
Long:
- Emergency rental assistance and supportive services
Questions:
Plans to do more habitat houses? He doesn’t know.
Any changes in perception of Habitat Houses from the new homes that were built? Would be interesting follow-up.
Habitat is working in Apex to assist in repairs of existing homes.
Zoning Laws – is there any discussion about rezoning laws to assist diversity? This is being investigated.
Part III
Think about the audience we focus on as SG or Faith groups
How Might your organization help?
Partner with AH developers, Habitat, DHIC, RTT etc. to find land/properties, build or preserve home, send volunteers and funds
Help households prepare for stable homes with family budgeting, credit repairs, paying down debt, upgrading job skills, etc. The Carying Place, Habitat
Get word out on new and existing and affordable homes, Habitat, Wake acres apt, Broadstone Walk
Attend Town Council, Planning Board and County Commission meetings to support worthy AH proposals and speak about benefits to entire town
Lunch and volunteers for Habit projects
Housing Dialogue – Segregated by Design – to initiate conversation to understand how to create more opportunities and raise awareness
Understand what the opportunities are to be helpful like when the mayor mentioned locations to assist with needs in the area … food pantries assistance