Housing

A Joint City of Wilmington, New Hanover County Workforce/Affordable Housing Ad hoc Committee was established in 2016 with a mission to recommend practices, policies, and programs to improve and increase the stock of available workforce housing in the region.

The Wilmington City Council and New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met jointly in 2019 to discuss the matter of workforce housing and the recommendations from the Ad hoc Committee's effort to identify strategies to improve workforce housing in the region. At that meeting, the City and County established a 13-member Workforce Housing Advisory Committee comprised of professionals representing the following communities: Business / Education, REALTORS®, Development, Financial, Non-Profit housing, and the Chair of the Joint Community Relations Advisory Committee.

The Committee was organized for the purpose of developing a comprehensive workforce housing study, workforce housing opinion study and public awareness campaign, support for increasing equitable access and the supply of workforce housing that is affordable; informing the Appointing Authorities and other organizations of their findings; and making recommendations, in an advisory capacity, to the Appointing Authorities and other organizations, as necessary.

The Committee was given the following duties:

1. To procure a workforce housing study and public opinion study, and conduct a public awareness campaign on the topic of workforce housing.
2. To recommend, in an advisory capacity, to the Appointing Authority necessary procedures, programs, or policies to promote workforce housing.
3. To provide the appointing authorities with an annual written report or presentation.
4. To conduct any other duties as assigned or requested by the governing Boards.

WHAC Strategic Plan

New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington retained Bowen National Research for the purpose of conducting a Housing Needs Assessment of New Hanover County. With changing demographic and employment characteristics and trends expected over the years ahead, this study will assist New Hanover County and its citizens in understanding the current market conditions and projected changes that will influence future housing needs.

The Housing Needs Assessment identified the housing needs by affordability and tenure by considering demographic characteristics and trends, economic conditions, existing housing availability, community and migration trends, and quantifiable housing demand estimates.

As part of the housing program that was established in the FY23 budget, funding was included to allow for an update to the Housing Needs Assessment commissioned by the Workforce Housing Advisory Committee in 2021 since so much had changed since the original data was collected in 2020. That report has been finalized and can be reviewed here: 

Housing Needs Assessment Update (PDF)

2021 Housing Needs Assessment (PDF)

A public opinion survey was developed by the University of North Carolina Greensboro Center for Housing and Community Studies (CHCS) to gather community input about their perceptions and opinions on workforce and affordable housing and the extent of government or other interventions they believe are necessary to address this matter.

Affordable and Workforce Housing - A Public Opinion Study for New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington (PDF)

The following programs are dependent on a variety of funding sources and may not be available at all times. Please check with county staff regarding the availability of funding for each program.

Based on the results of the housing study and survey, the Workforce Housing Advisory Committee has developed recommendations for tools and strategies to guide New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington's efforts in addressing the housing affordability needs of our residents. These recommendations were developed with various key stakeholders (housing finance agencies, housing non-profits, homebuilders, Realtors, etc.) and staff (County and City Planning, Senior Resource Center, etc.) and are based on best practice research from across the country tailored to local needs and authorities. 

• View the 2023 Workforce Advisory Committee Annual Housing Report

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program benefits low-to-moderate income households and may assist with neighborhood revitalization, water and sewer infrastructure improvements, and economic development.

New Hanover County is a non-entitlement community. The CDBG program is provided through the NC Department of Commerce, Division of Community Assistance Programs.

• Cape Fear Housing Coalition
• Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity
• Hud.gov: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's website offers sections on homeownership, HUD homes, fair housing, homeless, consumer information and much more.
• Joint City of Wilmington/New Hanover County Workforce and Affordable Housing Ad hoc Committee's Existing Conditions and Recommendations Spring 2017
• Legal Aid NC
• New Hanover County Office of Recovery and Resiliency
• New Hanover County Senior Resource Center Master Aging Plan
• North Carolina Housing Coalition
• N.C. Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA): The North Carolina Housing Finance Agency website offers information about housing, renters' rights and responsibilities, fair housing laws and housing search options.
• Weatherization Assistance Program: The Weatherization Assistance Program helps low-income North Carolinians save energy, reduce their utility bills, and stay safe in their homes.
• Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry (WARM): The Urgent Repair Program provides funds to help homeowners make essential repairs to their homes. Currently, Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry is administering this grant. They can be reached at 910-399-7563.
• Wilmington Housing Authority

Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, over half of renters in New Hanover County were housing cost-burdened, meaning they were spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs, including utilities, insurance, and taxes. Most affordable housing programs focus on serving households making 60% or lower of Area Median Income (AMI), leaving middle-income workers with fewer housing options available to them.

New Hanover County designed the Workforce Housing Gap Rental Assistance Pilot Program to help build stronger neighborhoods and communities by alleviating some of the housing cost burdens. In its second year and under new guidelines, households earning between 60 to 80% of the Area Median Income are eligible for the program. Qualified households will be directly provided a $450 reimbursement subsidy per month to compensate for rental costs.

Applications for the Workforce Housing Gap Rental Assistance Pilot Program are closed. For additional questions about this program, please email workforceassistance@nhcgov.com or call 910-798-7180.

Housing discrimination is Prohibited by Law. View the public notice (PDF)

Housing discrimination complaints can be made online on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website.

More information regarding fair housing can be found on the NC Department of Administration website.

Fair Housing Act

Water and Sewer Revolving Loans are temporarily paused while program guidelines are being updated.

For questions, please email Theo McClammy or call 910-798-7180.