Drawn by our beaches, charm, and quality of life, new residents are arriving here by the day—making the Cape Fear Region one of the fastest growing areas in the nation. But beneath this story of development and growth is an uncomfortable truth: the very people who keep our community running can no longer afford to live here. As home values climb and rents rise, teachers, nurses, first responders, childcare workers, and service industry employees are being priced out. Young professionals just starting their careers are finding that despite doing everything “right,” the cost of housing puts homeownership—and sometimes even stable rental housing—out of reach. Housing has become one of the most urgent and defining challenges of our time. Here in New Hanover County, the situation is stark. In 2020, 50% of homes were considered affordable. By 2023, that number had dropped to just 5%.

This isn’t just a statistic—it affects everyone who lives and works here.

Affordable housing isn’t a social safety net—it’s economic infrastructure.
Just like roads and broadband, housing is essential to economic development. If we want to remain a vibrant, growing region where businesses can thrive, we must prioritize policies, partnerships, and investments that make it possible for people to live and work here—sustainably.

At Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity, we are doing everything we can to address the issue, through both traditional and innovative strategies, including:

• New construction of single-family and multi-family homes
• Critical repairs to help seniors and people with disabilities remain in their homes
• Buybacks that preserve and recycle affordable homes
• And now, bold steps toward creating mixed-income communities that combine affordable and market-rate homes with shared green spaces and amenities.

But we are facing a growing challenge. Recent government funding cuts have created a more than $600,000 gap in our FY26 budget. These cuts come at a time when demand is surging and when other nonprofits are also experiencing similar strains. If we are to maintain the current level of service and continue to scale to meet the need, we urgently need support from the broader community—businesses, individuals, and foundations alike.

Affordable housing impacts every aspect of community health and success. Without it, families are forced to choose between housing and basic necessities like food, medication, and transportation. Health outcomes worsen. Emergency room visits rise. Children’s academic performance declines. The reliance on social safety nets grows. And for employers, workforce stability suffers—because essential workers can no longer afford to live where they work.

The ripple effects are not abstract. They affect all of us—residents, employers, and local government alike. But the good news is this: the solution also lies with all of us.
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Affordable housing is not just the right thing to support—it’s the smart thing. It is good economic policy, good health policy, good education policy, and good business strategy. When families have a stable place to live, they build stronger foundations for their children, for their work, and for their future.

What we invest in today—like affordable housing—shapes the character and capacity of our community for generations to come. This is our moment to act with foresight, compassion, and unity.

We ask business leaders, government officials, philanthropic partners, and community members to stand with us—not just for Cape Fear Habitat, but for all of the organizations and individuals working to ensure that the people who teach our children, protect our streets, care for our families, and serve our economy can afford to call this place home.

Let’s do what’s right for our community—today, and for the generations to come.