January 2026 News Roundup
Here’s what’s happening around the Mid-Atlantic region and the nation in affordable rural housing.
1) NC Workforce Housing Reforms in Chapel Hill
Local leaders are tackling housing affordability head-on: the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Town of Chapel Hill approved major zoning and land-use changes to boost housing supply—especially “missing middle” options like duplexes and ADUs—designed to help workers live closer to jobs and reduce cost pressure on the region. These measures were fast-tracked to address skyrocketing home prices far above averages in the Triangle region.
2) Charlotte Breaks Ground on a New Mixed-Income Model
In Charlotte, NC, a 353-unit mixed-income development called Trella Uptown opened, blending market-rate and affordable housing under one roof with amenities like a rooftop pickleball court and communal studio spaces. This creative public/private partnership addresses a citywide shortage of affordable units (40,000+) and showcases how design and inclusive planning can coexist.
3) Senate Moves on the ROAD to Housing Act
Bipartisan talks continue around the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream to Housing Act (commonly called the ROAD to Housing Act), which was advanced by the Senate Banking Committee and aims to strengthen housing supports, streamline post-disaster housing funds, and add new incentives/grants for local practitioners and partners.
Read the story on National Association of Counties
4) House Housing Reform Legislation Moving Forward
Separately, the Housing for the 21st Century Act has passed out of the House Financial Services Committee. It focuses on modernizing federal housing programs, boosting construction incentives, easing regulatory barriers, and improving financing options—potentially impacting USDA/Rural Housing Service loan and rehab programs.
Read the story on National Association of Counties
5) National Rural Affordability Pressure Rising
A recent national analysis shows rural buyers now need significantly higher incomes to afford typical homes—highlighting that affordability pressures aren’t just urban problems anymore, but increasingly hitting rural areas too.
Read the story on Redfin
6) West Virginia Gets a Big Affordable Housing Funding Boost
Across West Virginia, regional banks (via the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh) awarded $23.9 million in grants to support 13 affordable housing projects—including tiny homes and new construction—expected to deliver 250+ affordable homes statewide.
Read the story on Homes.com
