2023-08-02 Minutes
NEW HANOVER COUNTY-CITY OF WILMINGTON WORKFORCE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
August 2, 2023 | REGULAR MEETING
Committee Members Present: Sharm Brantley, Liz Carbone, Tom Gale, Krysti Keser, Eric Knight,
Katrina Knight, Paul Stavovy
NHC Staff Present: Tufanna Bradley, Katie Burket, Rachel LaCoe, Sarah Lipkin Sularz, Theo
McClammy
City of Wilmington Staff Present: Abie Bonevac, Chianti Johnson, Suzanne Rogers
Members of the Public: Morgan Cooper, Terri Burhans, Meaghan Dennison, Roger Gins
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 3:08pm by Chairperson Brantley and a quorum was
established.
Agenda Approval and Minutes
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ğŭĻƓķğ ƭĻƓƷ ƚǒƷ ƚƓ WǒƌǤ ЋЏƷŷ͵
Mr. Eric Knight made a motion to approve the meeting agenda, seconded by Ms. Krysti Keser and
adopted unanimously.
Ms. Keser made a motion to adopt the June 7, 2023 draft minutes, seconded by Mr. Paul Stavovy
and adopted unanimously.
Public Comments
None.
Special Presentation
Cape Fear Collective
Terri Burhans, Meaghan Dennison, and Morgan Cooper gave a presentation on the work of Cape
Fear Collective. ission is to drive toward systemic change by applying data
science techniques. A common question the organization receives is what
means for their work. CFC defines this as being able to mobilize projects without being restricted
by limitations of their funding sources.
Recently, the Collective developed the EcoMap, a searchable platform that highlights housing-
related resources in the community. It can be used to connect projects to funding where the
organizations have a network of investors to connect outside projects with funding sources,
tenant displacement prevention (roughly 200 tenants during COVID), and the acquisition of over
100 units. Challenges the
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organization is seeing include, existing latent defects (structural, electric, plumbing), rising cost
of labor and materials, income verification needed, limitations and tradeoffs of long-term
affordability clauses, and higher staff costs.
CFC Facts to Note Include:
CFC in possession of 103 units, and 16 vacant scattered sites
CFC has sold 10 properties, and 1 unit is pending acquisition.
When a property becomes vacant, CFC either offloads it to current tenant or resident, or
partners at 80% AMI or below, up to 120% if needed, or they enter a master lease
agreement with partners.
38 severe housing repairs have been completed, and over 1,000 work orders closed,
spending over $800,000 to date.
Unit turnover reached only 14%, with eviction being the last resort.
Committee Discussion:
Who/What are CFC partners?
o Habitat for Humanity, Vigilant Hope, City HOP buyers, General Market, LINC, Good
Shepherd, and Family Promise.
Can the CFC offload portfolios of property rather than individual homes?
o Yes - That is an option if there is the right partner who aligns with the particular
mission.
How the CFC determines which properties have utilities covered?
o Typically, that is how the lease is prepared.
Do tenants with legal challenges and if that negatively affects their chances to benefit
from housing through CFC?
o No, typically the leasing partners assume those challenges, and CFC helps those
with background check tings.
What are some of the general challenges CFC faces in it process?
o The biggest challenge so far is fitting the new model into already existing CFC
programs.
o A regional challenge is proper education about the new model. A common
true. CFC needs to accurately demonstrate that investors are not making a large
amount of money from this work;
o Another challenge is property tax exemption and the property tax bill. Ms.
Dennison added that a challenge is that statutes so not always line up with the
model.
How does the CFC ensure that a unit remains affordable when selling to an individual/end
user?
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o The CFC has explored deed restrictions, and first right of refusal, ultimately their
mission is to build generational wealth and they do not want to cap equity. Some
partner organizations help with that when residents access financial assistance
through other programs.
New Business
FY23 Recap and Lessons Learned
st
1. New Hanover County funded gap financing for 152 units in the 1 RFP allocation.
2. Developed and adopted the WHAC Strategic Plan.
3. 2022 Housing Needs Assessment update.
4. Annual report and committee recommendations were presentation to both elected
boards.
Staff then led a discussion about what the committee thought were the most impactful
accomplishment or successful efforts this past year? Topics include:
- That the work to develop the strategic plan was difficult but was very helpful and gives
the group a good place to push forward from
- That new members learned a lot about things about housing work happening in the
community, and how that information could be useful to outside work.
- The group spoke positively about monthly meetings and felt it gave them continuity and
momentum.
- Can the elected officials regularly attend
these meetings if they so choose, or can one of them be the liaison to this committee?
Next Steps
1. Annual Report update will be scheduled for November. The plan is to do a short report
update in November to transition to get the annual report on a fall cycle. This change
would support the budget process and create fewer scheduling conflicts for committee
members.
2. Can the County create a Sunshine List for housing updates.
RFP Selection Subcommittee
NHC staff reviewed selection criteria, no conflict of interest, available on August 30, 3-4 people
selected. Will follow up by email with volunteers.
September Selection of Officers Preparations
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2. Reminder that absences are reported to the Clerk.
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Staff Updates
UNCW received a NASA grant and will be talking about green infrastructure with various
underserved communities through community conversations throughout late summer 2023.
Announcements
1. Good Shepherd is hosting a fundraiser to benefit the shelter. It will be held on Friday
nd
September 22 from 6-9pm at The Barn at Rock Creek in Leland.
2. The Cape Fear Housing Coalition will be hosting homeownership events coming up in
September.
3. NCHousingSearch.org - free to tenants and landlords as a database.
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4. August 23 will be a public training for the CFC EcoMap.
Adjourn
Group made a motion to adjourn the meeting, unanimously seconded. The meeting was
adjourned at 4:52PM.
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