VIOLENCE BY SPREADSHEET: How Wake County Can Turn Housing Dollars Into Housing Equity
Wake County received nearly $30 million in federal housing dollars last year. These funds are meant to stabilize families, repair homes, create jobs, and circulate contracts into the community. Yet the County’s own report shows troubling disparities: the dollars are flowing, but too often they are not reaching the families and businesses with the greatest need.
I share this not as an outsider, but as someone directly impacted. I am a veteran, a parent, a student, and a homeowner in Wake County. My home has real repair needs. I have applied for utility help and mortgage relief. I have sought assistance to update my circuit breaker to prevent another electrical fire. Each time, I’ve been told funding was unavailable. Yet the CAPER — the annual federal report on housing dollars — confirms the funding exists. The question is not whether the dollars are here, but whether they are reaching us.
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Homes Saved — But Not Equitably
In 2024–2025, Wake County reported repairing 229 homes with federal funds. Only 16 of those belonged to Black families. That’s 7 percent of repairs in a county where Black residents are 21 percent of the population.
This means Black families were significantly less likely to receive support for stability — even though housing repair needs cut across every community. Too often, Black households were directed into shelters or emergency rental aid instead of long-term housing preservation.
Opportunity: Targeted outreach, proactive repair programs, and equity tracking can help ensure that future repair dollars reflect the true demographics of our county.
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Contracts Awarded — But Opportunities Missed
The County reports nearly $30 million in contracts flowing to developers and contractors. Yet not a single Black-owned, Latino-owned, Asian-owned, or woman-of-color-owned business received those funds.
This represents a profound missed opportunity. Federal housing dollars are designed not only to repair homes but to strengthen local economies. When minority- and women-owned businesses are excluded, the wealth gap widens.
Opportunity: Intentional inclusion strategies, transparent reporting, and Section 3 contracting goals can bring diverse local businesses into the process — ensuring dollars recirculate in the very communities most impacted by housing instability.
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Jobs Created — But Not Accessible
Federal law requires that when construction is funded, low-income residents must get a fair shot at jobs and training through Section 3. Yet the County’s reporting shows little progress. Tens of millions were spent, but few jobs or training opportunities were created for the people who most need them.
Opportunity: Stronger partnerships with workforce agencies, veteran service organizations, and neighborhood associations could make Section 3 not just a compliance checkbox but a real pathway for residents to gain skills and stability.
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Outreach Done — But Too Limited
The County notes outreach through flyers, community center postings, and small ads. But these efforts fall short of reaching the people most affected. No social media, no partnerships with Black churches, veteran organizations, or trusted neighborhood leaders were reported.
Opportunity: By modernizing outreach and collaborating with grassroots networks, Wake County can ensure residents not only know about these programs but can actually access them.
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The Pattern — and the Potential
These gaps are not random. They reflect systemic barriers. But systems can change. Wake County has an opportunity to ensure:
• More homes repaired equitably across racial and income groups.
• More contracts awarded to minority- and women-owned businesses.
• More jobs and training created for low-income residents.
• More outreach that truly meets people where they are.
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Why I Care
I am exactly the type of resident these programs were designed to serve: a veteran, a parent, a homeowner with documented needs. I know I am not alone — thousands of families across our county face the same barriers. We deserve programs that deliver not just survival, but stability and dignity.
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The Call
Wake County has an opportunity to turn federal housing dollars into true housing equity. With intentional outreach, equitable contracting, and stronger accountability, our county can become a model for how public funding closes — not widens — the racial wealth gap.
This is not just about dollars. It is about trust, fairness, and the future of our community. I believe Wake County can rise to this challenge. My goal is not to tear down, but to help build solutions that work for all of us.
