In a significant move to address housing affordability, Governor Josh Stein toured a new affordable housing project in Southeast Raleigh. This visit underscores recent legislative efforts aimed at increasing the availability of affordable housing throughout North Carolina.
Governor Stein emphasized the impact of stable housing on creating opportunities. “Stable housing provides a foundation for opportunity, but too many people at every income level are struggling to find housing they can afford,” he remarked. Highlighting the importance of mixed-income housing, Stein pointed to recent legislation he signed that simplifies processes and expands housing options across the state.
Yvette Holmes, CEO of Southeast Raleigh Promise, echoed the importance of a community-focused approach. She stated, “A higher-density housing approach is an important step toward expanding housing access and affordability across North Carolina.” Holmes acknowledged the visit’s significance as an opportunity to showcase how communities can grow sustainably while preserving their unique identity.
Emila Sutton, Director of Housing and Community Development at the City of Raleigh, highlighted the multifaceted support a stable home provides. “A safe and stable home can support so many other parts of life, from health and education to employment and long-term stability,” she said. Sutton noted that recent state actions have facilitated housing development by removing barriers such as parking minimums and expanding accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Raleigh, she mentioned, has already adopted many of these forward-thinking strategies.
The state faces a projected shortfall of over 750,000 homes by 2029, with Wake County alone needing 110,000 more homes. Rising rents and home prices exacerbate affordability issues, leading many residents to allocate more than 30% of their income to housing. This financial strain is particularly acute among older adults, a significant portion of whom spend over a third of their income on housing. Alarmingly, North Carolina experienced the ninth-highest increase in rental prices nationwide from 2024 to 2025.
Governor Stein’s recent legislative actions are designed to address these challenges. The signing of Senate Bill 445 aims to streamline procedures for building more housing, including ADUs, while House Bill 162 focuses on reducing mandatory parking requirements, encouraging mixed-use zoning, and allowing residents to live closer to their workplaces. Stein has championed these measures as a way to lower housing costs and enhance accessibility.
Earlier initiatives by Governor Stein include an executive order aimed at boosting housing opportunities and affordability statewide. Executive Order No. 36 calls for cross-agency collaboration to enhance housing supply, affordability, and access while leveraging technology for data-driven solutions.
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