Success Story: Flood Adaptation in Affordable Housing
Wilson Housing Authority replaces vulnerable public housing in safer location nearby
Project Purpose
Hurricane Matthew caused flooding that rendered 40 public housing units in two Wilson Housing Authority communities uninhabitable. The impacted homes were in the floodway and had experienced multiple damaging floods in the past. As a more resilient solution, Wilson Housing Authority and the City of Wilson constructed Eatmon Townhomes, an affordable housing project that included 32 new units outside of the floodplain.
Quick Facts
- The area affected by flooding had a median household income of $16,051 in 2015, the year before Hurricane Matthew. Fifty-seven percent of the families in the census tract were living in poverty. The unemployment rate in the area was 27.5%. The availability of housing affordable to residents at all income levels is a critical element of resiliency.
- Project managers funded the project through direct allocations instead of loans. They acquired $5.1 million through a mix of federal, state and local sources (Retana, 2022).
- As of early 2024, Wilson Housing Authority is working with NC Emergency Management to use Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds to demolish the damaged, uninhabitable homes. Future plans include a greenway trail and flood retention ponds.
Spotlight on Equity
Preserving affordable housing near its original location is important to support the day-to-day in-person connections in low-income communities where information and support like childcare are often exchanged among neighbors. The Wilson Housing Authority’s 32 new housing units are available to applicants with incomes at 80% or below the area median income. Tenants pay no more than 30% of their monthly incomes in rent with a minimum of $50 per month. The Wilson Housing Authority chose its first applicants from an existing waitlist. They prioritized homeless individuals, families and veterans. In addition, the Wilson Housing Authority installed green energy appliances in each unit to increase the energy efficiency of the homes and lower utility costs.
| Key Info | |
|---|---|
| Location | Wilson, N.C. |
| Estimated Costs | $5.1 million |
| Published | March 1, 2024 |
| Project Contact |
|---|
| Timothy Rogers Director of Public Relations Wilson Housing Authority trogers@wilsonha.org (252) 291-2245 Ext. 225 |
| Related Resources |
|---|
- In 2017, Wilson County’s Hurricane Matthew Resilient Redevelopment Plan listed the Eatmon Townhome project as high priority.
- In 2018, the Wilson Housing Authority and the City of Wilson secured a Rental Assistance Demonstration Grant from US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to convert the public housing units into Section 8 affordable housing and construct them outside the floodplain.
- Construction of the new housing units began in 2021.
- In 2023, the first residents moved into the new housing units.
Instead of using loans, project partners funded the $5.1 million project with direct allocations:
- $750,000 - Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) – Neighborhood Grant
- $2,712,905 - Public Housing Restoration Fund grant administered by the NC Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) and supported through state CDBG-Disaster Recovery funding
- $1,637,095 – HUD Public Housing Operating Reserves and Capital Funds and Public Housing Demolition and Disposition Transitional Funding
- Insurance proceeds from the damaged homes
- A grant from the City of Wilson’s Chamber of Commerce
- Funding from the Wilson Housing Authority and the NC Department of Commerce
Wilson Housing Authority, City of Wilson, FEMA, HUD, NCORR, NC Department of Commerce, Stogner Architecture and DanCo Builders
- Project partners intentionally located the new housing units outside the floodplain but in the existing community, within the City of Wilson’s redevelopment area. The location provides residents with access to urban amenities.
- The 32 new, two-bedroom units include 28 two-story townhomes and four additional one-story homes. Partners designed the one-story homes to be accessible for residents with disabilities.
- Project partners designed and constructed units with the intent of providing quality homes that residents would find comfortable.
- The Wilson Housing Authority deeded the land with the damaged homes to the City of Wilson. As of early 2024, the City of Wilson is working with NC Emergency Management to explore the use of FEMA hazard mitigation funds to demolish the damaged, uninhabitable homes and preserve the land as open space in perpetuity. Future plans include a greenway trail and flood retention ponds.
Project managers emphasized the importance of providing quality affordable homes to Wilson residents. Wilson Housing Authority Director of Public Relations Timothy Rogers shared a few tips:
- Their attention to detail when assuring quality construction caused minor delays, but it was worth it to ensure new tenants moved into homes the housing authority was proud of.
- When replicating this project, acknowledge that low-income residents have historically been limited to the most flood-exposed areas. Affordable housing projects can provide residents with new, safe and high-quality homes while addressing flood risk in the community.
- Consider nature-based solutions during site-design to help with flood management.
Retana, J. (2022, February 23). HUD to build new affordable rentals in Wilson. Retrieved from CBS17.com: https://www.cbs17.com/news/hud-to-build-new-affordable-rentals-in-wilson/