City of Raleigh Affordable Housing Forum - August 22, 2026

The City of Raleigh held an Affordable Housing Forum on August 22, 2026, focusing on strategies to address housing affordability, homelessness, and community development. Key discussions included the impact of zoning reforms, such as the 2021 missing middle housing changes, which have enabled the approval of thousands of new housing units and helped stabilize rents. The forum highlighted the city's investment in affordable housing through gap financing, housing bonds, and ongoing partnerships with nonprofit developers and service providers. Presentations detailed the challenges of land acquisition, construction costs, and the complex capital stacks required for affordable housing projects, including tax credit financing and local funding sources. The forum also emphasized the importance of collaboration across city, county, and state agencies, as well as community engagement to overcome opposition to new developments. Additionally, innovative approaches to homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing were discussed, supported by pilot programs and coordinated outreach efforts. The event concluded with a call for continued commitment to expanding affordable housing supply and addressing the systemic barriers that contribute to housing instability in Raleigh.