Daniel G. Clodfelter,
Charlotte, N.C.
As the population grows in Charlotte, N.C., specifically in low- to moderate-income households, the need for affordable housing becomes more of a necessity, says Daniel G. Clodfelter, who was appointed mayor in April 2014 after Patrick Cannon resigned from office.
“The lack of quality affordable housing in our city has impacted many of our citizens by forcing them to pay more than 30% of their annual income for housing, thus causing a ripple effect in other areas such as transportation, health care, and daycare costs,” Clodfelter tells AHF.
The residents of Charlotte agree, approving a capital investment plan at the voting polls in November that includes $15 million for affordable housing that will be deposited into the city’s Housing Trust Fund. The funds will be used to provide gap financing to affordable housing developers to assist with new construction and the rehabilitation of existing units.
The City Council has also partnered with the Foundation for the Carolinas in a public-private partnership to raise funds for a $20 million endowment that is expected to live in perpetuity. The funding will provide short-term rental assistance to low- to moderate-income families who can achieve self-sufficiency within two years.
Charlotte does not have a mandatory inclusionary housing program. However, the council approved a voluntary mixed-income density program for both multi-family and single family developers. This program applies to areas of the city where there is a need for additional affordable housing.
In addition to providing tools to encourage affordable
housing production, Clodfelter made a
commitment to end veterans homelessness in the city. On Veterans Day, the city,
Mecklenburg County, and the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medial Center accepted the
Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness. The partners implemented the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Our Heroes initiative, which seeks to house the
area’s 204 homeless veterans by the end of 2015.
