High Point council hears update on fair housing certification, investigator hired; complaint intake expected by fall 2025

High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson on Monday recognized a managing director for a city update on the municipality’s fair housing initiative, during which staff said the city has interim certification through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), recently hired a fair housing investigator and is preparing to begin accepting complaints and running community trainings by fall 2025.

The update, given by Jeron Hollis, managing director, summarized the city’s timeline after the council last year approved a local fair housing ordinance and HUD granted a three‑year interim certification. "We’ve had seven complaints that we’ve sent to the state human relations commission," Hollis said, and added that the city is building capacity to take incoming cases and run landlord trainings once final certification steps are complete.

The update matters because local certification through HUD’s Fair Housing Assistance Program would allow High Point to investigate certain housing discrimination complaints locally and to receive HUD funds for trainings and program development, officials said. Council members pressed staff for more detail on complaint categories and training participants, and staff asked for continued council support while federal processes continue.

Hollis said the city’s recent steps include hiring a new investigator and continuing routine fair‑housing trainings and landlord‑tenant outreach. "Our new investigator has joined the team," Hollis said, and staff are identifying training resources "to make sure that our staff are trained to the level and standard that HUD expects as part of our agreement." He said that once training is complete the city expects to begin taking incoming cases and community trainings later this year and into fall 2025.

Rayce McCray, division manager for human relations, described the audience mix for recent trainings: "The fair housing trainings are usually a mix," he said, noting sessions for realtors, resident groups and requests such as one from the Latino Family Center. McCray said he would provide a detailed calendar on which of the three sessions referenced in the update served which audiences.

Hollis and McCray described the city’s case intake so far: staff logged about 91 landlord‑tenant related contacts year to date, which the office groups by where they are referred for assistance. "A good number of them are... minimum housing complaints" that code enforcement and inspectors handle, Hollis said, and others are disputes over rent, lease terms or utilities for which the office refers residents to eviction mediation programs or community resource agencies.

Council members sought more granular data. Councilman Holmes asked for a categorical breakdown of the 91 landlord‑tenant issues; Hollis said staff would calculate and provide that information. Council member Andrew asked to be notified in advance of future trainings that fit his schedule; staff agreed to provide advance notice.

Council members also asked whether HUD staffing reductions were expected to delay funding. Hollis said he had no specific updates: "I don't have any updates specifically on timelines and onboarding... That's one of the many things that's kinda up in the air," he told the council, adding staff would pass along new information through appropriate channels.

No formal action was taken on the fair housing update. After the presentation and questions, the council moved to other business and then recessed into a closed session on a separate personnel item.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to adopt the meeting agenda — moved by Council member Andrew; seconded by Council member Cook; mayor announced the motion passed by voice vote (ayes recorded by the presiding mayor).

- Motion to go into closed session on personnel item 25‑149 — moved by Council member Holmes; seconded by Council member Andrew; mayor announced the motion passed by voice vote (ayes recorded by the presiding mayor).