Advocates for affordable housing in North Carolina are caught between optimism and fear as the Trump administration prepares for a second term. Many people are wondering if this administration would eliminate important programs or finally take on the housing crisis head-on now that Eric Scott Turner has been nominated to be Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
A Mixed Mood Among Advocates
Stephanie Watkins-Cruz, director of housing policy at the N.C. Housing Coalition, acknowledges that there is a mixture of anxiety and hope. This anxiety is not unfounded; it is a result of an administration that has a history of reducing funds for initiatives that benefit low-income neighborhoods. Even when the future seems like a tightrope walk, every new beginning is accompanied by a cautious hope.
Watkins-Cruz said, “We are focused on protecting existing programs.” “The families we assist and our ability to adjust to the future are truly in danger.”
She expresses what many in the field are afraid of. The administration’s initial indications point to big changes coming soon. Potential cuts to HUD, which is already overburdened, might destroy initiatives aimed at addressing homelessness and providing affordable housing. To defend what little ground they have gained, advocates are preparing for battle.
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Executive Orders and Uncomfortable Indications
Days after entering office again, President Trump issued executive orders that dismantled diversity and equity initiatives, which housing advocates had been fighting to put into place. His comments on a recent trip to North Carolina only made things more uncomfortable. The proposal to do away with FEMA and give states more responsibility for disaster response rocked the advocacy community. What happens when a crisis strikes communities that are already struggling? Who is going to take the place?
Concerns Over HUD Leadership
Not exactly calming people down is Eric Scott Turner, who is set to take over as head of HUD. There were questions raised during his Senate confirmation hearing about his reluctance to pledge to protect housing programs. Turner has previously supported private equity’s engagement in the rental market, a tactic notorious for raising rents and displacing poor renters, which has upset critics in particular.
“Turner declined to commit to protecting federal housing and homelessness programs from severe expenditure cuts,” said Renee M. Willis, interim president of the National Low-Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC). Willis draws attention to Turner’s contentious past and his statements, which some believe to be blaming immigrants for homelessness. The storyline seems uncannily similar to polarizing issues from Trump’s first term.
Familiar Threats Resurface
D200,000 households that were dependent on federal aid were displaced. They worry that the following policies are once again being considered:
- increased labor requirements and rent for elderly people, people with disabilities, and low-income families.
- Housing assistance programs have time constraints, which puts families in danger of being evicted.
- Thousands are left in uncertainty as a result of funding cuts to homeless initiatives.
Advocates are preparing for what could be another protracted and difficult campaign because they fear rehashing similar conflicts.
Hope Amid the Challenges
There is, nevertheless, a glimmer of hope despite the dread. Advocates have given hesitant approval to a few of Turner’s suggestions, including:
- Zoning regulations should be changed to promote affordable housing.
- simplifying federal efforts to recover from disasters.
- making federal housing programs, such as Housing Choice Vouchers, more accessible.
- using cooperative, research-based methods to combat homelessness.
- Enforcing fair housing regulations more strictly.
Although these concepts seem promising, there is doubt that they will ever be put into practice or if they are merely empty rhetoric.
Looking Ahead
Who knows what will happen next? For the time being, housing advocates are mobilizing their resources, protecting important programs, and wishing for changes that give the weaker people more priority than the wealthy.
According to Watkins-Cruz, “this is about protecting families.” “We cannot afford to fall behind.” Her remarks serve as both a rallying call and a reminder of the issues involved.
The upcoming months will be crucial as Turner’s nomination moves closer. Will this administration step up to the plate or go back to policies that many believe have let millions of Americans down with no success? The stakes are extremely high, and time is of the essence.
Actions You Can Take
Are you worried about home affordability? The time to act is now. Speak with your reps. Encourage neighborhood housing projects. Keep up with any changes to the policy. We can fight together to ensure that everyone has a place to call home in the future.
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