Stephanie Watkins-Cruz

Shoutout to WPTF Raleigh for letting me talk about the need for affordable housing in North Carolina this morning, looking forward to future conversations #ncpol #nc

Whew the first month, I mean full week of January 2026 is almost over 😅

The amount of stop and start moments and deep breaths it has taken to get through writing a 2025 housing policy summary has been quite telling 😂

Now information is being shared about the existing property tax relief programs at the state level #nc #ncpol #ncga

Now Nick Giddings from the Legislative Analysis Division is presenting on legal property tax authority as well as the context in NC #ncpol #ncga

"In 2024 - the average home prices was 5X the median income in North Carolina" #ncpol #ncga

First presentation from fiscal research shows kicks off the committee meeting by sharing what contributes to high housing costs in North Carolina #nc #ncga #ncpol

Currently listening to the beginning of the House Select Committee on Property Tax Reform (See their charge here - webservices.ncleg.gov/ViewDocSiteF..., and agenda here : webservices.ncleg.gov/ViewDocSiteF..., this is their first meeting which is expected to last about "3 hours" #nc #ncpol #ncga

Interesting morning at the #NCGA where two house committees are meeting currently, one on public safety and involuntary commitment and another on property tax reform. #nc #nchousing

Day 1 of the @nlihc.org State and Tribal Partners convening, thankful to be here representing @nchousing.org. Looking forward to some inspiration, sharing what we’ve been doing & also highlighting how we’ve been reacting to the current conditions in our state in Charlotte and the triangle area 💜 #nc

@nchousing.org Executive Director @samuelgunter.bsky.social just announced a amazing partnership with the American Red Cross that will deploy more than $1 Million in housing counseling and assistance programming for foreclosure preventive and more. #nc #nchousing

Day 2 of the 2025 NC Affordable Housing Conference. Day 1 of the fed gov shutdown. What a time to be convening approximately 1500 practitioners throughout our housing ecosystem, so thankful to work with such brilliant people & even prouder to be at the NC Housing Coalition @nchousing.org #nc

Really appreciate the practical and incredibly tímely keynote by @jennyschuetz.bsky.social today, thank you so much for bringing your expertise to the 2025 NC Affordable Housing Conference. #nc #nchousing

This is not an overnight fix… legalizing ADUs wont give us 10k units overnight, it also won’t bring the rent down for low-income households for several years, so we must continue to subsidize housing & provide affordable options as the impacts of these reforms take root”
@jennyschuetz.bsky.social

“In general we need to he honest about how long it may take to see the impacts of housing policy reforms” @jennyschuetz.bsky.social

“There is not one template that works for all states” @jennyschuetz.bsky.social

“We need to create systems for people unable to live in our communities now to have a voice as we try and allow for developments that make space for them”
@jennyschuetz.bsky.social

“Effective housing capacity depends on what is currently built on, what zoning allows for, and what markets want to build “

@jennyschuetz.bsky.social

Kicking off the conference is our keynote @jennyschuetz.bsky.social discussing what policy reforms are needed to increase housing supply #nchousing

Resuming posting on BlueSky after a long break to fill folks in on the great conversations and highlights from the 2025 NC Affordable Housing Conference #nc #nchousing2025

Two flights, and a 2.5 hour van ride later, and this vacation officially begins. So tired, but so ready for this post travel day nap. 🎉

Thank you !

The lack of investment in housing and affordable housing development in both the Senate and House versions of the proposed FY 25-27 budget is extremely concerning. If there were ever a time to match dollars with stated concerns about our workforce, cost of living, and need, this is it. #ncpol #ncga

This week's highlights:
🔵Following the House budget at the NC General Assembly particularly concerned about funding for the Workforce Housing Loan Program (WHLP).
🔵Following the Federal Reconciliation process
☀️My first vacation in a while!

“We have to remember that the ways communities are built, roads laid out, is not an accident… thinking this is the way to be… remember this is NOT the way it has to be” Samuel Gunter, @samuelgunter.bsky.social @nchousing.org

“As we try & figure out how to make sure to make this work continue… we will have to continuously be rethinking how this work happens… on the other end of this we all will still try & figure out how to solve these issues for our communities” -Samuel Gunter @samuelgunter.bsky.social @nchousing.org

“Housing first doesn’t mean housing ONLY, it means housing is the first step, the first piece.” Dr.Latonya Agard, ED with NCCEH #ncpol

Kicking off Day 2 of Bringing it Home: Ending Homelessness in NC with a joint conversation with our Executive Director Samuel Gunter with NC Housing Coalition and Dr. Latonya Agard, Executive Director with the NC Coalition to End Homelessness #ncpol #nc @nchousing.org @samuelgunter.bsky.social

"As we know, if you jail, fine, or arrest somebody it does not address or solve homelessness." -Donald Whitehead, Jr., Executive Director for the National Coalition for the Homeless #ncpol #ncga #bringingithome2025

"We need a country that values housing" -Donald Whitehead, Jr. Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homelessness #ncpol #nc #bringingithome2025