As a result of a policy change made in May 2015, public housing options have become much more accessible for the formerly incarcerated and homeless.
“The town looked at other communities’ exclusionary periods for people with criminal histories and realized that in many cases our waiting periods were longer than other housing authorities,” said Sarah Viñas, housing and community planner for Chapel Hill.
“At the same time, there were advocacy efforts from outside groups like the Partnership to End Homelessness, and the North Carolina Housing Coalition, and the public defender’s office encouraging us to look at the waiting periods for people with criminal histories, and also to establish homelessness as a preference.”
Viñas said when a homeless individual now goes through the application, their homeless status gives them preference.
“We have a lot of great agencies that work closely with the homeless population. They tend to provide a lot of support," Viñas said. “It was a really collaborative effort. We’re proud that we’re able to make these changes.”
Since the policy changes, public housing has received six applications from people who are homeless and has housed one applicant so far. It has also received 46 applications from those with criminal charges and has placed 17 of those on the waiting list — something impossible without these policy changes.
Bethany Chaney, a member of the Carrboro Board of Aldermen, said she is pleased with the decreased restrictions for receiving public housing.
“Often times, the barriers to accessing services have a lot to do with fear, suspicion and an inability to engage because the housing situation is so unattainable,” she said.
Other housing initiatives are being considered as well.
