Local governments play an essential role in helping their communities develop and revitalize neighborhoods with low income. Housing is one of the major challenges facing most local governments. With the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Charlotte is faced with a huge housing problem whereby more than 30,000 residents are more likely to miss housing services (Lindstrom, 2020). According to a report released in 2019, more than half of Mecklenburg is about to reenter financial crises, with high costs of housing. Most people in such localities spend close to 30% of their monthly, increasing their life burden in an already strained economy (Kelley, 2019). In connection with this increasing problem, the Charlotte city government held a virtual meeting, which would give solutions to the challenge. In this meeting, the members proposed various solutions to the challenges. The meeting also explored the various options that are available for the provision of cost-effective housing. Two main organs funded the meeting within the local government. The main sponsor in this meeting was humanitarian organizations, the private sector, and the local government. The volunteer humanitarian organizations aimed at addressing this challenge that has affected people in the city for the last decade (City of Charlotte, 2020). Private investors in the housing sector and retailers also contributed to the success of the meeting. Held at the city council's hall, the meeting was also accredited and funded by local government officials, including the Charlotte mayor, Vi Lyle, who was in attendance.
Proposed
The main problem facing the housing sector in Charlotte is the unavailability of affordable housing in the city. Being among the US's largest cities, Charlotte must have adequate housing for workers, visitors, and other stakeholders in the city. In curbing this problem, the local government proposed a partnership with private investors (City of Charlotte, 2020). The partnership would see the investors purchase lands at affordable prices and construct houses for the city residents. Consequently, the housing units would be constructed to cater to the low-income communities in the city. Therefore, the proposal was the establishment of a partnership between the private sector and the local government for the construction of affordable housing in the city.
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Reaction
After the proposal was issued, it was established that some members objected to it. Those opposing this proposal argued that the city had spent more than $214 million on the construction of affordable housing in the city. However, despite these efforts to achieve affordable housing, the city still languishes in the burden (City of Charlotte, 2020). Those opposing the move raised a concern that new developers in the city impose high rents on their houses, making it difficult for low-income city members to access housing in the city.
Results of the vote
The meeting was attended by 60 people, including the city council members, the private sector, public members, and non-profitable volunteer organizations. In the voting exercise, 41 people voted in favor of the city government's proposal, while 19 people objected to the proposal (City of Charlotte, 2020). The mayor, who chaired the meeting, therefore agreed and established that the first decision-making exercise was successful, as the proposal had gained more than 60% acceptance.
Future action
Having been subjected to council meetings and voting exercises, the issue would then be subjected to other decision-making procedures before being implemented. The city would open tenders for willing investors following the guidelines provided by the council meeting (City of Charlotte, 2020). After the tendering exercise, successful bidders will be issued with contract requirements before beginning their work. The housing units will be subjected to reviews to establish if they conform to the city's requirements for affordable housing. The meeting was essential in addressing the problem of affordable housing in Charlotte, NC. Like the other major cities in the US, Charlotte houses low-income employees like hotel housekeepers, landscapers, fry cooks, and other workers who earn less than $15 every hour (Kelley, 2019). The Charlotte housing crisis dates back to the 1960s when the city's plan for urban renewal approved the demolition of low-cost units occupied by blacks (Charlotte Journalism Collaborative, 2019). Despite making the tear-down efforts, the city took minimal efforts in reinstating housing units for the poor people in the city. Since 2010, Charlotte's rent rates have grown by more than 45% due to the shortage of housing units in the urban areas (Charlotte Journalism Collaborative, 2019). If the city's economic imbalance and segregation were to be addressed, then the city must ensure affordable housing, hence the essence of the meeting. The housing issue is critical not only in Charlotte but also globally. Housing forms part of one of the essential needs of human beings. Children subjected to poor housing or homelessness could find it difficult to improve their livelihoods or succeed in schools. Affordable housing is also critical in ensuring the health and well-being of people (Gitan, 2017). Social challenges like crimes and drug abuse could also be solved through affordable housing within a community. Therefore, the meeting is highly relevant at this stage because it aims to help Charlotte's city escape the burden of homelessness and inadequate housing units. The mayor, council members, community members, private investors, and non-profit organizations have expressed the need for establishing new housing policies to address this challenge. By partnering with the local government, private investors will acquire affordable lands for the construction of cost-effective housing units. The issue is at the legitimation stage of a decision-making process. Having passed the agenda-setting whereby the council members agreed on deciding the type of problem to address, the issue then progressed to the policy formation stage, whereby various proposals were made to address the challenge. At the legitimation phase, a solution is proposed before being implemented. The proposed solution will also be evaluated to determine if the meeting was successful and its shortcomings. For instance, during the evaluation stage. The council will establish how the proposed housing units have addressed the housing challenge in the city. After evaluation, the council will then enter the last phase, policy maintenance, and succession. At this stage, the policy will be implemented in large-scale boundaries. Most city's mayor was the most influential personality in this meeting and its outcomes. Being the meeting's chair, she played a significant role in bringing together all the stakeholders to find a solution to the looming housing challenge. Public participation also enabled the council members to establish the best decisions for addressing this challenge that has affected the city for the last decade. In addressing this problem, the public must support the local government by providing their views and objections to the proposed solutions. Addressing the housing problem will play a major role in shaping security and other social issues in Charlotte. For instance, the largest population affected by high housing costs in Charlotte is black people. By addressing this problem, such marginalized communities in the city will feel safer, thus solving racial inequalities and segregation.
References
Charlotte Journalism Collaborative, (2019). Status quo is not working: can Charlotte find solutions for the affordable housing crisis? The Charlotte Observer. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article230433349.html
The city of Charlotte, (30th July 2020). Housing Task Force Meeting: July 30, 2020. YouTube, https://youtu.be/qUk-kOOOEvs
Gitan, V. (2017). The Central Importance of Housing. Housing Matters. https://housingmatters.urban.org/articles/central-importance-housing
Kelley, P. (2019). From Brooklyn to Ballantine: The Story behind Charlotte’s affordable housing crisis. The Charlotte Observer, https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article231622193.html
Lindstrom, L. (2020). Covid-19 will worsen Charlotte’s affordable Housing crisis, putting more in need. WBTV. https://www.wbtv.com/2020/05/14/covid-will-worsen-charlottes-affordable-housing-crisis-putting-more-need/#:~:text=The%20lack%20of%20affordable%20housing,of%20their%20income%20on%20housing .
