WS Chronicle

The Winston-Salem City Council voted Monday to approve new guidelines for the Affordable Housing Development Program, taking a big step to help address the city’s housing needs. The decision came after earlier delays caused by concerns from Councilmember Barbara Burke, who worried the guidelines might limit minority participation and affect housing efforts in her Northeast Ward.

The program, which includes $2 million from the Construction Loan Program Fund, is designed to increase affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents. The new guidelines create a clear process for reviewing and approving housing projects, making sure the program is fair and efficient.

The program will support projects like new construction, fixing up older homes, and converting unused buildings into housing. To ensure fairness, projects that receive funding must keep rents affordable for at least 30 years and meet rules about income levels for tenants.

“This program shows our commitment to building strong neighborhoods and providing affordable housing for everyone,” said Assistant City Manager Angel Wright-Lanier.

The program also uses ideas from other cities, such as a scoring system for project applications and training for developers. The council approved the resolution 7-1, with Burke voting against it.

Proposals for the program will be accepted starting in early 2025. Details about the guidelines are available from the city’s Neighborhood Services department.