Stein signs executive order on housing supply, affordability

Gov. Josh Stein signed an executive order Tuesday directing state cabinet agencies to coordinate efforts on housing supply, affordability and access.

Executive Order No. 36 also calls for agencies to use data and technology as they work on housing-related policies, programs and services.

Stein was joined for the announcement by Schumata Brown, town manager of Maysville in Jones County; Ryan Shaver of the North Carolina Masonry Association; cabinet secretaries; legislators; and other local officials and partners.

“Too many families are struggling to make rent or afford a home,” Stein said. “This executive order directs a whole-of-government approach to get more homes of all types built and make homeownership more accessible and affordable for North Carolinians.”

The order creates a senior advisor for housing policy position in the governor’s office. Stein named Janneke Ratcliffe to the role.

Ratcliffe will work with local and tribal governments, state agencies and other partners on a statewide housing strategy, measurable goals and housing policy communications, according to the governor’s office. She also will work with leaders from private, nonprofit, philanthropic, academic and faith communities on housing efforts.

Ratcliffe previously served as vice president of the Housing and Communities Division for the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C.

“Across the nation, housing is the biggest expense that families face, and it’s only getting less and less affordable. North Carolina is no different,” Ratcliffe said. “I’m eager to work with cabinet agencies and partners across the state to create the first statewide housing strategy and deliver solutions that bring costs down and expand opportunity for North Carolinians.”

The governor’s office said North Carolina faces a gap of more than 750,000 housing units through 2029, particularly affecting low- and moderate-income households.

According to the governor’s office, approximately half of North Carolina renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Nearly 30% of older adults in the state spend more than one-third of their income on housing.

The office also said that in 2025, teachers in 23 North Carolina counties did not earn enough on average to afford average fair market rent where they work, and 53% of enlisted families in North Carolina report spending more than 30% of monthly income on housing and utilities.

From 2024 to 2025, North Carolina had the ninth-highest rental price increase in the country, according to the governor’s office.

The executive order directs state agencies to prioritize housing access, housing creation and housing resilience in relevant policies and planning. It also establishes a framework for agencies to align housing goals and coordinate housing-related resources, programs and services.

The order further directs agencies to work with partners and use data, information technology, platforms and research to support local governments and builders seeking to increase housing options.

Stein’s recommended 2026-27 budget, announced last month, includes funding for housing programs that would expand affordable housing, preserve existing rental units and support emergency home repairs, according to the governor’s office.

The proposal includes investments through the Housing Trust Fund and Workforce Housing Loan Program for new and rehabilitated multifamily units. It also includes additional grants to local governments to encourage higher-density zoning policies and increase housing supply.

— AKC