Raleigh is planning to redirect more than $3.6 Million in one-time federal housing dollars away from acquiring and developing new shelter space and toward the case management, job training, and housing counseling that city staff say people need to get and keep permanent housing.
According to the proposed Substantial Amendment to the city’s HOME-ARP Allocation Plan, Raleigh received $5,256,688 in HOME-ARP funds through the American Rescue Plan and originally earmarked a large share for acquiring or developing non-congregate shelter. The city now wants to shift $3,636,688 of that to “Supportive Services,” a flexible federal category covering a broad range of stabilization help.
Why the pivot?
Since Raleigh’s original plan was accepted by HUD in 2023, Wake County has added shelter capacity—including non-congregate units specifically for families. The gap that remains, city staff say, is in wrap-around services that help people move from a shelter bed into permanent housing and stay there.
The amendment ties the move to the Wake at Home initiative, launched in 2026, and frames it as aligning city dollars with what Wake County and other Continuum of Care partners are already funding. Affordable rental housing funding is untouched by this change.
How to weigh in before the public hearing
City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on September 1 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers at the Raleigh Municipal Building, 222 W. Hargett St. To speak, sign up by 3:00 PM the Friday before—call the City Clerk’s office at 919-996-3040 or visit the City of Raleigh Public Hearings web page for details…