Ashley Pendley, deputy director for Community Development, told the Board of Commissioners that Forsyth County continued housing rehabilitation, down‑payment assistance and code enforcement in FY25 and is exploring new ways to use program income to support development of affordable housing.
The matters matter because county programs and partnerships shape whether low‑ and moderate‑income households can repair homes, buy their first house or have unsafe housing brought into compliance.
Pendley said the housing rehabilitation program completed repairs on 19 homes last fiscal year with total investment of roughly $454,000 drawn from a mix of state, federal and local sources; program administrative reimbursements totaled $92,025. She said the county can now extend certain state rehab funding to the Town of Walkertown. For down‑payment assistance, staff reported 19 buyers assisted in FY25 using a mix of HOME program funds and the state Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP); total down‑payment assistance reported was about $1.75 million. Pendley said CPLP funds have been exhausted for the remainder of the calendar year and staff is talking with partners about bridging strategies and possible use of HOME program income.
On code enforcement, staff said 47 homes were brought into compliance in FY25, 33 by voluntary owner action and 14 by order; county funds invested for code enforcement totaled $22,173, primarily demolition costs.
Pendley summarized program constraints: demand is concentrated inside Winston‑Salem municipal limits where county‑administered HOME and CPLP resources are heavily used; CPLP exhaustion will reduce down‑payment activity until additional funding or sponsorships are identified; and code enforcement can be delayed by clouded titles or pending foreclosures. Staff proposed several options for expanding the county’s role in affordable housing — including contributions to a housing trust fund or community land trust, or targeted assistance for Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects — but noted state law and fund‑source restrictions may require a voter referendum or dedicated general funds to expand county‑funded housing initiatives beyond what existing grant funds allow.
As a collaborative step, Pendley said City of Winston‑Salem staff have asked the county to consider a joint resolution affirming a shared commitment to meeting projected housing unit needs in the Carolina Core area; staff said the resolution would be non‑financial and focus on planning and zoning actions to reduce regulatory barriers.
Pendley said staff will host a housing resource fair on Nov. 8 at the Central Library and continue to evaluate creative uses of HOME program income for acquisition, rehabilitation and new construction consistent with federal rules.