How YOU Can Support this Work
1) Become an "Affordable Housing Voter." Sign up today to pledge to vote in the upcoming Cary Municipal election on May 17 (early voting begins on April 28). By signing up, you will also be indicating that you support the creation of a designated housing fund in Cary. You can make your pledge here.
2) Join ONE Wake for a non-partisan Get-Out-The-Vote canvass in precinct 04-03 on May 12 at 6:00 pm to encourage District C residents to vote before the end of early voting. More information here.
ONE Wake is a non-partisan organization that does not endorse candidates or political parties. We are glad to work with anyone who supports our agenda.
Why Create a Designated Housing Fund in Cary?
Between 2010 and 2020, the Town lost roughly 3,900 rental units that are affordable to essential workers (e.g. teachers and grocery store clerks) earning $40,000 or below. Many members of the community who we care about and rely on can no longer afford to stay in Cary.
The creation of a local housing fund will support larger efforts to create and preserve more housing options for the essential workers who keep our town running. Every other major town and city in the Triangle has created a similar fund. In Chapel Hill, the designated fund has led to the creation of 296 new affordable units since 2016.
In the fall of 2021, ONE Wake proposed that the Cary Town Council creates a new designated housing fund in the FY 22/23 budget to support the development and preservation of affordable housing in Cary. We asked the Town to invest the equivalent of a penny from the property tax rate into this new fund, which would total roughly $3.5 million per year.
This proposal is consistent with the Town's own housing plan, which was passed in November 2021.
This spring, ONE Wake leaders have learned that the Town of Cary is creating a designated fund to support the housing plan, through a combination of Community Development Block Grant funds, American Rescue Plan Act funds (ARPA), and local money. This is good progress, however, the ARPA funds will expire in two years.
Our question for candidates in this municipal election is: If elected, will you work with ONE Wake to preserve and increase affordable housing in Cary, including the continuation of the designated fund for housing in two years when the federal money expires? Click here to read candidate responses.
Resources
GOTV Pledge Virtual Sign Up Form
Housing Fund + GOTV Flyer (English / Spanish)
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