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Lenoir City reports growth in single‑family housing aid but lags on multifamily low‑income units
Summary
At its Sept. 2 meeting, the Lenoir City Council heard a HUD consolidated‑plan report from home program administrator Rick Oxford showing the city exceeded goals for developer‑built houses and first‑time buyer assistance but has not yet delivered the planned multifamily low‑income units, which staff says are delayed by project funding timelines.
Lenoir — At its Sept. 2 meeting, the Lenoir City Council heard a five‑year consolidated‑plan update and FY2024 outcomes from Rick Oxford, the city’s home program plan administrator, who said the city exceeded several single‑family goals but remains behind on multifamily low‑income units.
"Two was our goal. We actually did six," Oxford told the council, describing the community housing development organizations (CHDOs) outcome for new houses. He also summarized the city’s homebuyer assistance: "We said we were going to assist 43 families ... that was our goal and we did 57."
The report — prepared to satisfy U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reporting and public‑comment requirements — breaks planned activities into the consolidated five‑year plan and the first‑year action plan. Oxford said projects financed through low‑income housing tax credits often span multiple years: the city issues commitment letters but pays funds only when a project completes. "We do have three multifamily projects that are in the works ... we're a little behind on that goal," he said, noting the city’s target of supporting four multifamily units has produced no completed units to date.
Oxford told the council the city has CDBG funds available for public‑facility work at the Old Lenoir High School (gym, auditorium, football field and band building) and that those projects remain in planning. He said the timing of multifamily projects — application, allocation of tax credits, construction and final completion — means local HOME/CDBG disbursements frequently carry across fiscal years.
Why it matters: HUD requires the consolidated plan and annual action reports to document goals, accomplishments and citizen input. The city’s over‑performance on CHDO home construction and down‑payment assistance helps increase owner‑occupied housing, while the delay in multifamily completion affects the pipeline of low‑income rental units that HUD‑funded programs are intended to support.
Council members asked clarifying questions about fund carryovers and accounting practices; Oxford explained the city issues conditional commitment letters to developers and disburses funds once projects are complete, which can shift actual payouts into later fiscal years.
Next steps: Oxford indicated the city will submit the FY2024 report to HUD and continue to solicit citizen input as required. The council did not take formal action on new allocations at the meeting.
