On Thursday, October 17th, 900+ members of ONE Wake institutions turned out in person at Watts Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, with 100 more joining online for a nonpartisan assembly with 25 candidates for Raleigh City Council. Together, they called on candidates for transformative investment to address the affordable housing crisis driving displacement across the city and the growing racial wealth gap.

Nearly every candidate said YES! to the community-led proposals and promised to return to another public assembly with ONE Wake in 12 months to report on their progress.

 You can watch the candidate responses here.

This assembly was the culmination of a year-long organizing effort rooted in the leadership and vision of Black clergy across Wake County, with strong support from ONE Wake's multi-racial base. Over the last six months, ONE Wake institutions collected over 8,000 signatures demonstrating support for bold action to exponentially increase affordable housing production in their communities, especially affordable home ownership, to create a pathway for equity and generational wealth.

On Thursday night, all assembled heard testimony from ONE Wake leaders about the housing crisis's impacts on their lives and the lives of their families. 

To address this crisis, ONE Wake leaders presented clear proposals. They asked Raleigh City Council candidates whether they would support:

1. A substantial increase in local affordable housing funding, from roughly $30 million per year to roughly $70 million per year, and
2. identification of 100 acres of city, county, and state land to be designated and held for affordable housing development.

Leaders also asked candidates whether they would support ONE Wake's vision to build Nehemiah housing in Wake County and whether they would join them on an inter-city tour to Brooklyn to see Nehemiah housing in person before next May. 

No Wake County Board of Commissioners candidates attended Thursday night's assembly. In their absence, ONE Wake leaders called for a funding increase for the County's Housing Department, from an expected $40 million in FY 25 to $60 million.

This action was a tremendous accomplishment. It was simultaneously the largest local candidate event of the election season and the largest in-person action ever held by ONE Wake.

Media Coverage:

Voters chart future policy with Raleigh City Council Election (indyweek.com)

Raleigh City Council Candidates Commit to Affordable Housing Plan (indyweek.com)

Raleigh's candidates attend largest community forum | Raleigh News & Observer (newsobserver.com)