Stephen J. Sills, PhD Housing

What the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Means for Forsyth County

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act represents the most significant federal housing-policy package in years. Yet it should not be mistaken for a large new housing appropriation. The law creates tools, modernizes programs, reduces selected barriers, and changes what local governments and housing organizations are allowed to do. Whether it produces meaningful results in … Continue reading What the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Means for Forsyth County

Stephen J. Sills, PhD Housing

Forsyth County Humane Housing Network: Understanding the Current Landscape Part 2

Forsyth County’s housing system is not merely a stock of units; it is an institutional architecture that organizes mobility, opportunity, and risk. Part 2 of the Humane Housing Network’s “Current Landscape” advances a pragmatic frame of Prevention, Preservation, and Production mapped onto a pathway from Urgency to Stability, Permanence, and Thriving, with the aim of … Continue reading Forsyth County Humane Housing Network: Understanding the Current Landscape Part 2

Stephen J. Sills, PhD Housing

Forsyth County Humane Housing Network: Understanding the Current Landscape

Part 1 of the Humane Housing Network’s Current State Assessment, a data-rich look at Forsyth County’s housing ecosystem and what it takes to move residents from urgency to thriving housing conditions. Drawing on a 260-page draft, years of studies, and new mixed-methods research (35+ interviews, focus groups, workshops), the presentation maps the continuum: emergency shelter, … Continue reading Forsyth County Humane Housing Network: Understanding the Current Landscape

Stephen J. Sills, PhD Housing

Franklin County’s Housing Crossroads: What the Data Tells Us, and What We Can Do

Franklin County is no longer a “sleepy rural county” at Raleigh’s edge; it is now one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing communities. The population of this county rose an estimated 11.7% from 2020 to 2024 and is projected to climb another 10.5% by 2030. Growth has brought higher incomes to the community from those working in … Continue reading Franklin County’s Housing Crossroads: What the Data Tells Us, and What We Can Do

Stephen J. Sills, PhD Housing

Forsyth County’s Housing Crisis by the Numbers: A Data-Driven Call to Action

If you’ve been following conversations about housing in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, you know things are tough for those seeking decent affordable homes. The latest presentation from Innovative Research Insights, “Current State – the Data,” lays out the reality with sharp clarity. Using fresh data from local, state, and national sources, IRI reveals just how … Continue reading Forsyth County’s Housing Crisis by the Numbers: A Data-Driven Call to Action

Stephen J. Sills, PhD Housing

A Decade in Review: What Winston-Salem’s Housing Reports Reveal About Our Path Forward

Recording of the live presentation and panel discussion of this report may be accessed HERE What does a decade of research, planning, and community debate tell us about the future of housing in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County? The recently released report, Preservation, Production, & Policy: Comprehensive Strategies for Addressing Housing Needs in Winston-Salem & Forsyth … Continue reading A Decade in Review: What Winston-Salem’s Housing Reports Reveal About Our Path Forward

Stephen J. Sills, PhD Housing

More Regulation Needed for SFR Institutional Investors

Real estate has always been a safe, long-term investment. When managed locally (and not by a slumlord who is mining equity), rental owners provide an important service to a local community by providing affordable and decent places to live. Historically, middle-to-upper-middle-class families owned a couple of units to build long-term wealth and provide a cushion … Continue reading More Regulation Needed for SFR Institutional Investors