Housing
Housing shortages happen when there are not enough homes in a region to meet the demand of buyers. These shortages – created by factors such as population growth and rising land costs – drive up home prices and rents.
What would you like to learn?
Thank you to DreamKey Partners for providing guidance on core content as Lead Agency for this folio.
What is affordable housing?
Housing shortages happen when there are not enough homes in a region to meet the demand of buyers. These shortages – created by factors such as population growth and rising land costs – drive up home prices and rents.
A city can have available housing but still face a shortage if most homes are priced above what we can afford.
Housing costs (our rent or mortgage payments and basic utilities) should be no more than 30 percent of our gross income. When we spend more than that, it limits our ability to pay for other essentials like food, healthcare, and child care.
Those price increases eventually push households with lower incomes farther from job centers, creating a greater need for affordable housing.
Adding affordable housing is typically achieved through:
Smaller homes or apartments
Duplexes, triplexes and townhomes
Zoning reforms that reduce development costs
Those of us earning 30 percent or less of our Area Median Income (AMI) often struggle to stay in stable housing, and are at the highest risk of becoming homeless.
Communities that invest in focused solutions that help keep the most vulnerable among us in stable housing benefit from improved economic mobility, public health, and educational opportunity.
Key Facts
Scroll down for key facts on housing
$138K
annual income needed to afford a median-priced home in Charlotte
45K
affordable housing unit shortage for the lowest-income households in Charlotte
50%
of renters in the Charlotte region spend more than 30% of their income on housing
51.7%
of residents who completed the Mecklenburg County FY2026 Resident Budget Priority Survey ranked affordable housing as a top issue
$450K
is the median price of a home in Mecklenburg County as of March 2026
6K+
Charlotte households are on the waiting list for affordable housing vouchers
What is happening now?
Affordable housing in Charlotte is a key community challenge as population growth and rising home prices accelerate increases in housing costs.
Studies show the metro area has a shortage of affordable units that meet the needs of our households earning less than 30 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) – $25,250 per year for a family of four.
Charlotte has responded with funding and programs to attack the issue from several angles. Initiatives and organizations such as the Housing Trust Fund (HTF), Charlotte Housing Opportunity Investment Fund (CHOIF), and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) deliver funds to boost new construction, restore existing developments, and offer gap financing to developers building housing with lower rent for tenants.
The City of Charlotte has partnered with faith communities, homebuilders, and real estate companies to provide temporary and long-term affordable solutions, and its Charlotte 2040 Comprehensive Plan promotes higher-density housing and mixed-income neighborhoods.
A Home For All is a comprehensive and cross-sectoral plan to address homelessness and housing in Charlotte.
There are also initiatives to support teachers with affordable housing options, revitalize older neighborhoods, renovate apartments, and rebuild homes following disasters. Multiple nonprofits assist individuals facing housing insecurity in accessing resources that bring long-term solutions.
These efforts, along with public vouchers for low-income residents, help enable our community members in need to live near jobs and schools in our fast growing region.
Donate or volunteer now
To explore additional nonprofits working in Housing, visit SHARE Charlotte’s directory for Affordable Housing, Housing and Shelter, and Urban Development.
Take Action
Choose a card below to learn more.
Learn Who is Leading
Give Back Financially
Volunteer
Educate Yourself and Advocate
Participate in Planning
Align Priorities
Starting points
These six organizations are good starting points for someone new to this topic to learn more.
Charlotte is home to a growing network of people and organizations who believe in building a stronger, more connected community for all.
Explore more resources below.
Explore More
Provides solutions for economic stability, such as housing assistance, for families in Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville
Renovates naturally-occurring affordable housing (NOAH) such as older apartments, protecting residents from displacement.
Helps strengthen the community and reduce recidivism by providing people with criminal records and their families tools and resources to rebuild their lives.
Offers temporary housing and services that empower families to achieve long-term stability and financial independence.
Manages programs (Housing Trust Fund) and incentives that finance affordable housing projects.
Provides assistance and advocacy for people in financial crisis, such as rent and utility assistance, helping them move toward self-sufficiency.
Works one on one with families in the Freedom-Wilkinson corridor to dent generational poverty.
Provides criminal justice-involved people with housing solutions and other resources that assist reentry into society.
Expands neighborhood revitalization efforts in the region through new home construction and financial education programs.
Connects tenants, landlords, and service providers to help people access affordable housing and navigate housing programs.
Manages resources and provides developers with low-interest capital through low-cost debt, housing vouchers, and private funding.
Manages initiatives to prevent homelessness, obtain and sustain permanent housing, and increase affordable housing.
Provides street outreach, day services, and emergency shelter to individuals experiencing homelessness.
Empowers working families and communities historically underserved by the financial marketplace.
Provides affordable housing to alleviate homelessness and human suffering.
Works with neighborhoods and nonprofits to create impactful programs, including housing initiatives, that help lift people out of poverty.
Acquires land and develops or renovates homes in underserved neighborhoods.
Tools and Resources
Everything you need in one place. Browse articles, reports, and tools that support your journey.
Lingo to Know
Every topic has its own vocabulary. Learn a few key words here so you can explore with confidence.
Area Median Income (AMI)
The midpoint of a region’s income level, calculated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Attainable housing
Housing affordable to middle-income households priced out of expensive options who do not qualify for subsidies.
Higher-density housing
Maximizing land use by adding more housing units (apartments, condos, or townhomes) on available land.
Income-restricted housing
When developers get tax incentives to build units for households below certain income levels.
Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH)
Housing, including older apartments and homes, that remains affordable without new construction.
Subsidy
A benefit given to businesses or individuals to keep prices low or support disadvantaged communities.
Download the Housing folio
Special thanks to cover artist, Sharon Dowell!
Connecting the Dots
View related folios
Builder Button → Share Your Feedback With Us
Let's Build Something Awesome Together
We didn’t build this alone – and we’re not done yet. This site grows with input from real people across Charlotte. Got feedback? A topic we missed? A story to share? Click the Builder Button below.
Builder Button → Share Your Feedback With Us
Let's Build Something Awesome Together
We didn’t build this alone – and we’re not done yet. This site grows with input from real people across Charlotte. Got feedback? A topic we missed? A story to share? Click the Builder Button below.
