Lunch & Learn: Affordable Housing in Charlotte
By Leslie Cramer
The Women’s Impact Fund held its third Lunch & Learn event, focusing on the pressing issue of affordable housing in Charlotte. Tonya Bruce moderated a panel of representatives from Charlotte nonprofits focused on addressing housing insecurity and providing support services.
Our panelists included Kristina Aquilone from Supportive Housing Communities, Shakieta Maloye from Another Chance House Of Refuge, and Beth Silverman from The Lotus Campaign. The Supportive Housing Communities is a Charlotte nonprofit that provides affordable housing to alleviate homelessness and human suffering. Another Chance Charlotte is a local nonprofit that assists low-income individuals and families with creating purpose, remaining empowered, sustaining, and remaining self-sufficient. The Lotus Campaign bridges nonprofits (who identify people at risk of homelessness) and landlords (who have available units).
The discussion highlighted the declining trend of affordable housing units in Charlotte from 60,000 units 10 years ago to less than 25,000 units in 2024. Kristina from Support Housing Communities discussed how a shift is occurring from individuals to whole families experiencing homelessness with the rising cost burden and limited low-income housing. Shakita reported an increase of 23% in homelessness nationally in 2023 which is the highest increase since 2007. Point-In-Time data for Mecklenburg County reports a 35% increase since 2020.
The conversation also touched on the involvement of wraparound case management support for mental health to meet the unhoused where they are and get them supportive services that are right for them. Supportive Housing Communities and Another Chance both provide mental health support, case management, and even psychiatric support for their clients.
Beth discussed how The Lotus Campaign partners with private landlords to be the economic guarantor for low-income renters. Approaching private real estate landlords and asking to try the program with one unit with the hopes of expanding to multiple units to increase the affordable housing to low-income families.
Shakita brought up that the minimum wage in North Carolina is $7.25 per hour. A full-time worker compensated at the minimum wage rate would need nearly 100% of their income for a 1-bedroom apartment with a fair market value of $1185 per month. So individuals are working two or more jobs to provide for their families.
The speakers emphasized the significance of community involvement in council meetings to have voices heard and address changes to minimum wage laws and housing shortages. Showing up to vote and signing petitions to change the legislation that allows the snowball effect of low income, housing shortage, expensive childcare, and more to keep low-income individuals in poverty and economic instability.
Thank you to everyone who put the lunch and learns together the speakers, and the attendees of these great events!
