Raleigh Leaders Push Housing Promises at Busy Church Rally

A Call for Affordable Housing in Raleigh

The Rev. Whitney Hall and her wife have always followed the path that society has outlined as the way to achieve financial stability. They went to school, held full-time jobs, and worked hard to build a secure future. However, despite their efforts, they found themselves unable to afford a home in Raleigh, North Carolina. "We did all of the things that we were told and were taught would allow you to build security, to buy a home, to have the things that you need," she said. "But one thing that we have found in a day like this is we can't afford to buy a home here in Raleigh, and that is a hard truth."

On a sweltering July day, the message resonated deeply with more than 1,000 attendees gathered at Watts Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. The event was organized by One Wake, a nonpartisan group composed of religious congregations and community organizations in Wake County. Their mission includes advocating for affordable housing and other critical issues affecting the local population.

Voices from the Community

One Wake’s assembly featured powerful speeches and discussions about the urgent need for affordable housing. The Rev. Donna Coltrane-Battle emphasized the importance of action over passive hope. "You can pray until you faint, but unless you get up and try to do something, God is not going to put it in your lap," she said, quoting civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer.

Seven out of eight Raleigh City Council members, including Mayor Janet Cowell, attended the event. They were questioned about their commitments to increase the city's affordable housing budget and identify land for new developments. While some progress had been made, such as an increase in the affordable housing budget to $11.8 million, many advocates felt the efforts fell short of what was needed.

Challenges and Progress

Despite these challenges, there was a sense of cautious optimism. The city leaders acknowledged the need for a larger affordable housing bond but were hesitant to commit to the $200 million requested by advocates. "We haven’t even started the conversation yet, so I just want to go through the correct process with staff," Cowell said. She expressed confidence that a successful affordable housing bond would eventually be approved.

One Wake also pushed for affordable housing to be developed on the Randleigh Tract, a 300-acre property jointly owned by Raleigh and Wake County. However, there are obstacles, including a portion of the land reserved for a fire training center and plans for Interstate-540 to cut through the area.

Collaboration and Accountability

One Wake is part of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), a national network of faith-based organizations. Their approach to accountability involves asking government leaders to answer “yes” or “no” to specific questions. While this model has proven effective elsewhere, Cowell suggested that a more collaborative dialogue might be better suited for addressing the unique challenges in Raleigh.

"We understand this is a model that IAF uses, but we think for these issues, it would be better to have ongoing collaborative dialog," she said. "They're coming up with their numbers and targets, and (city) staff is over here coming up with numbers and targets, and then we're kind of in this awkward middle point where I think there's a lot of good things happening, but I can't necessarily say 'yes' to each question."

The Growing Need for Affordable Housing

The need for affordable housing in Raleigh and Wake County has never been greater. According to the North Carolina Housing Coalition, 27% or 120,490 households are cost-burdened, meaning they pay more than 30% of their income on housing. More than 72,000 rental households, or 47%, struggle to afford their homes, and nearly 50,000 homeowners, or 17%, face similar challenges.

In the past year alone, there were 779 foreclosures and 29,599 evictions in Wake County. These numbers highlight the urgency of the issue and the need for immediate action.

Looking Ahead

The Raleigh City Council is currently on a six-week summer break and is expected to discuss a future affordable housing bond and a transportation and transit bond later this fall. With the 2026 election approaching, the pressure is on for city leaders to deliver on their promises and take meaningful steps toward addressing the housing crisis.