Harnett County is proud to announce its selection as one of 22 counties in North Carolina to participate in the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill’s “Our State, Our Homes” program.

Launched by Carolina Across 100, “Our State, Our Homes” is an 18-month initiative aimed to help communities develop capacity, analyze challenges and implement strategies to address affordable housing and related issues in North Carolina.

Business, civic, education, nonprofit, faith-based and government entities from the 22 participating counties will collaborate as 14 teams spanning every region of North Carolina. Harnett County will join forces with Cumberland and Sampson County as part of Team Ten.

Sarah Arbour, Planner II with Harnett County Development Services led the initiative on applying and completing the application for the program. She stated applying for the grant presented a unique opportunity for Harnett County to develop and implement strategic solutions for housing affordability issues the community is facing.

“Our goal is to leverage the tools and resources provided through the program to explore new models of affordable housing, enhance partnerships with developers, and build capacity for local government involvement in housing projects,” said Arbour in a press release.

The program offers participants a range of support including coaching, technical assistance with innovation projects and opportunities to build relationships with peer communities as well as national, state and campus-based housing experts across the state. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to connect with peers, as well as national, state, and campus-based housing experts across the state.

The project will be led by Harnett County Deputy County Manager, Coley Price and Planner II, Sarah Arbour.

Harnett County Development Services began the process of updating the Comprehensive Land Use Plan in August 2023. The Harnett County Horizons 2040 Draft Comprehensive Land Use plan outlines three goals for housing:

Goal 1: Accommodate a mixture of housing types in appropriate areas.

Goal 2: Encourage the preservation and construction of affordable and workforce housing.

Goal 3: Work with partners to prevent and reduce homelessness.

“Being chosen to participate in this program couldn’t have come at a better time. As we work on developing our new Land Use Plan, this initiative aligns perfectly, allowing us to integrate affordable housing strategies seamlessly into our community’s long-term vision,” said Coley Price in a press release. “We are excited about this opportunity as we will gain resources to look at asset inventory and a game plan. This will be a great opportunity to address affordable housing issues that the county faces.”

The program kicked off with its first meeting on, Jan. 16, 2025.

For more information about the “Our State, Our Homes” program, visit: Our State, Our Homes - Carolina Across 100.