Inside Charlotte's housing crunch

As thousands of people move to the region each year, the gap between housing supply and affordability continues to widen, leaving many working families priced out of homeownership. In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ledger managing editor Ashley Fahey talks with Laura Belcher, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte region, about how the organization is evolving to meet that challenge. Including a shift away from exclusively doing scattered-site construction to developing entire neighborhoods, Habitat is adapting to rising land costs, changing policy and a housing market that has grown increasingly complex. (After this conversation was recorded, Habitat confirmed Belcher will step down from her role at the end of the year.)In this conversation, they discuss:Why Charlotte’s housing affordability problem has intensified — and why it’s so difficult to solveHow population growth, rising interest rates and limited supply are reshaping the housing marketHabitat’s shift from building individual homes to developing full neighborhoodsHow partnerships with private builders are helping expand affordable housing optionsThe role of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) in allowing more densityWhy preserving existing affordable housing is just as important as building new unitsHow institutional investors are changing the homeownership landscapeCommon misconceptions about affordable housing and who it servesWhy there’s no “silver bullet” — and what it will take to make progressThis episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is presented by PBS Charlotte’s “Unspun” program, helping you learn what politicians are thinking but not saying. It’s hosted by former Gov. Pat McCrory.This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com.