FROM STAFF REPORTS

A divided Statesville City Council has agreed to contribute money to a United Way of Iredell County program that aims to increase home ownership and housing stability throughout the county.

Following a spirited discussion during the council’s budget retreat, six council members expressed support for using $190,000 in funds from the sale of property off Free Nancy Branch to pay for the first year of participation. Staff will explore ways to fund the city’s participation in year two and beyond without using tax dollars.

Through the establishment of the Iredell Housing Fund, the United Way of Iredell County has formed a partnership with seven different entities, including Habitat for Humanity, Purple Heart Homes, I-CARE, Community Foundations, Rebuilding Together, the Statesville Housing Authority and the Town of Mooresville. Each has contributed nearly $200,000 to the effort.

Brett Eckerman, executive director of the United Way, told Statesville council members that the nonprofit’s board had established five goals for the Iredell Housing Fund:

♦ Provide repairs to make healthy and safe as many existing homes as possible throughout Iredell County;
♦ Provide increased opportunities for home ownership to working families who cannot afford to become owners;
♦ Keep families at risk of displacement from becoming homeless;
♦ Create awareness of the partners who are contributing to the repairs and involve volunteers and donors together to build momentum for change at scale; and
♦ Bring nonprofits to the table to work cooperatively alongside each other to maximize the dollars spent

Some council members have repeatedly expressed concerns about the lack of affordable housing options in the area as the cost of new and existing homes — and rental properties — have increased sharply during the past two to three years.

The council, Eckerman explained, will be able to control how city funds are used and restrict their use to projects inside the city limits.

“If you want to take the leap, you’ve got to look for a game-changing opportunity,” he said.

Councilwomen Kim Wasson, Doris Allison and Lisa Pearson supported the program without reservation.

“We can’t walk around and ignore that we have 500 families living in hotels,” Wasson said.

“This is humane,” Allison added. “We can’t solve the problem, but we’re going to do whatever we can to help.”

After council members David Jones and Amy Lawton expressed strong objections about using local tax dollars for the program, Mayor Costi Kutteh proposed the compromise that garnered the support of the majority.

“It seems as if this task is insurmountable,” the mayor said, “but this problem is not going to get better on its own.”

Council members Steve Johnson and C.O. Johnson did not support city participation in the program.

Councilman Steve Johnson called the program another instance of “do-gooder politicians” taking and redistributing the money of hard-working small business owners.

“True compassion is when you give your resources (to help others), not when you take someone else’s resources and give it away,” he said.