Jack Smith response to Cary & Wake Habitat for Humanity

What changes or decisions will you make in office to increase access to affordable housing?

We have to increase our affordable housing stock by expanding our partnerships with not-for-profits and provide more funding in excess of the 4% we currently budget.  We’ve had extraordinary success partnering with  Habitat for Humanity and DHIC and we must keep doing more to enable all our not-for-profit colleagues to act quicker.  In addition, we need to explore availability of additional town land similar to the 7 acres we are in the process right now of converting to affordable housing. 

What will you do in office to support first-time homebuyers? 

We need to investigate if our successful program helping families remain in their homes through grants not paid back until after the house is sold, can be modified to help first time home buyers. 

3.     Rents are rapidly rising in Wake County and Cary.  How will you increase affordable rental options? 

With the regions explosive growth, affordable housing clearly is emerging as a top priority and there is no silver bullet that will fix the backlog overnight. Compounding the challenge for Cary is we are 85% built out and 50% of our residential housing is part of an HOA, restricting our ability to pursue programs such as ‘granny flats’ on a large scale.  They and similar programs will help but our best opportunity to provide more immediate impactful affordable housing is through infill redevelopment, particularly in areas with struggling strip malls.  A good example is the recent Glenaire Senior Living expansion onto a distressed shopping center which resulted in a win-win for all.

4.     What else should Habitat Wake’s network know about you? 

I was born in Germany and received my citizenship in 1967.  In this country I grew up poor and know what it feels like to be an outsider, growing up in a blue collar area surrounded by affluence.  When I joined the Council it was a passion of mine to ensure Cary became a welcoming and inclusive community for all.  Today we are and I am proud of my efforts to ensure every person living in Cary enjoy all the benefits Cary has to offer.  No matter where you live or your income you can feel safe and a part of our family friendly quality of life with all our amenities.