Why Local Elections Matter for Housing

When most people think about elections, they picture national races. But the decisions made right here — in Matthews, Mint Hill, and Mecklenburg County — often have a greater impact on your daily life, especially when it comes to housing.

From zoning and infrastructure to funding and neighborhood planning, local elected officials shape the communities we call home. For Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity, these decisions affect our ability to build, repair, and preserve homes for limited-income families across our service area.

Here’s why your vote in local elections matters for housing — and for Habitat’s mission.

Local decisions shape what kind of homes can be built

The Matthews and Mint Hill town boards — along with Mecklenburg County — decide how land is zoned and developed. These zoning rules determine how many homes can be built, what types (single-family, townhomes, duplexes, etc.) are allowed, and where they can go.

When communities support inclusive, flexible zoning, it opens the door for organizations like Habitat to create affordable housing options that fit within existing neighborhoods. But when zoning is restrictive, it can make building affordable homes — or even adding a duplex like our new one in Matthews — far more difficult.

Funding priorities start with local leaders

Many of the resources that make affordable housing possible — like community development block grants (CDBG), local housing trust funds, and municipal partnerships — are approved at the town or county level.

When our local municipalities choose to invest in affordable housing, they’re helping us continue programs like Critical Home Repair and Rock the Block, which preserve existing homes and keep long-time residents safely in place.

Your vote helps decide who sets those funding priorities — and how our community invests in safe, stable housing for everyone.

Preserving existing homes depends on local support

For many long-time homeowners in Matthews and Mint Hill, the biggest housing challenge isn’t buying a home — it’s keeping it safe and livable as costs and repairs pile up.

Local leaders influence everything from code enforcement policies to home repair funding and aging-in-place initiatives. When towns commit to supporting preservation programs, they protect not just individual homes but the character and stability of entire neighborhoods.

Equitable housing policies require intentional leadership

In our region, racial and economic disparities in homeownership remain stark. Expanding access to homeownership — especially for families of color — helps close the racial wealth gap and creates generational stability.

Local officials can support this by investing in equitable housing policies, streamlining development approvals, and partnering with nonprofits that make homeownership more attainable. The leaders we elect determine whether those doors open wider or close tighter.

Your vote carries real weight

Local elections often have low voter turnout, but their outcomes directly shape where and how affordable homes can be built. A single vote can decide whether a new housing policy passes — or whether our community continues to grow in an inclusive, sustainable way.

By voting, you’re helping decide what kind of Matthews, Mint Hill, and Stallings we want to build together — and whether that future includes homes for everyone.

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💬 Questions to Ask Your Candidates About Housing

🏠 Affordable Homeownership

• How will you promote affordable homeownership opportunities in our community?

• What steps will you take to help families become first-time homeowners?

🏘️ Increasing Housing Supply

• What policies would you support to increase the supply of affordable homes?

• How can local government partner with nonprofits or developers to meet housing needs?

🤝 Equity & Access

• How will you address racial and economic disparities in homeownership?

• What can be done to make housing more accessible for limited-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities?

🔧 Preservation & Stability

• How will you protect homeowners from displacement due to rising costs or code issues?

• What will you do to preserve existing affordable housing and keep long-time residents in their homes?

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Remember: Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity does not endorse any candidates or political parties. We encourage everyone to learn, engage, and vote — because housing policy starts at home.

Find early voting information and polling locations at vote.mecknc.gov