FAQ

A law, issue or topic put on a state or local ballot for citizens to decide. Typically, ballot measures include recalls, referendums or initiatives.

This Ballot Measure will allocate 2% of the city budget to a Housing Trust Fund to be used exclusively to preserve and expand the supply of affordable housing in New Orleans.

2% of the annual budget, roughly 17 million dollars per year, beginning in 2026

NO. There will be NO increase in taxes. Voting YES for this ballot measure simply means 2% of the City’s General Fund, made up of local taxes and other revenues, would be dedicated towards housing.

We have identified three purposes:

1. The creation of affordable rental housing
2. Preservation of affordable rental housing
3. Creation and preservation of affordable homeownership opportunities

The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority and Finance New Orleans will partner to administer the funds, through a contract with the City. A City Council Advisory Committee will decide, with Council approval, how to divide annual funds between the three purposes, based on residents’ needs. However, a minimum amount (15% of program funds) will always be invested into each of the three purposes every year. The Council Advisory Committee will be composed of appointees of the Mayor’s Office, the City Council, the Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance, Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center, and Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, with at least one member who has lived experience being unhoused or living in affordable housing. This Advisory Committee, NORA, and FNO must annually present their proposed allocation to the Council, which will approve or modify the allocation based on local market conditions and residents’ highest needs.

While those most in need of assistance – low and moderate income families, seniors on fixed incomes, people with disabilities, and people facing homelessness will be especially targeted for help through the Housing Trust Fund, ANY NEW ORLEANIAN affected by the insurance crisis will benefit – including homeowners, renters, and landlords. The impact of the Housing Trust Fund will benefit every resident of New Orleans by addressing housing conditions that affect us all.

• Because the HTF will lead to more housing stock and decreased housing costs, residents will have more money to spend on household necessities like food, education and healthcare – creating a positive impact on our local economy. Specifically, the HTF will:
• Help homeowners keep their properties, stabilizing and strengthening neighborhoods with long-term residents and local businesses like grocery stores.
• Create more available jobs in the near-term and attract regional and national investment and jobs in years to come.
• Grow the population, retain and attract young families, increase tax revenue to improve city services.

The city has no dedicated local funding invested in housing. This will be the first time we are making a targeted and sustained investment in housing our residents, which we know will help thousands of homeowners, small landlords, and renters. Current federal funds don’t have the flexibility to address our current needs, like the insurance crisis. HTF will provide that opportunity. Additionally, the fact that the city will be obligated to make an annual investment in housing, means we will attract even more dollars from state and federal government, nonprofits, and other funders. This is exactly what has happened in other cities. Residents deserve these resources, and we also need the HTF to be well managed with transparent results. The HTF laws in City Code will require a strategic plan, transparent oversight, and public accountability, with results updated at least four times a year and regular public meetings of the Advisory Committee. As we await passage of the HTF, which will take effect in 2026, the Council has made an initial investment of $49 million in 2024 toward affordable housing. $32 million of that is funding the creation of affordable housing developments, bringing hundreds of new units online, being managed through the city. The Council allocated another $17 million to serve as a pilot for the HTF. From this work, we know how much of an impact the HTF will have.

• $17 million would help 1,100 residents fix their roofs, making them eligible for insurance discounts.
  
  
• $30 million would create 1,000 new affordable rental units, built to new sustainable standards.

Make your voices heard!

• Call/email your Councilmember and tell them to INVEST YOUR MONEY IN YOU.
  
  
• VOTE YES for HOUSING by supporting the Housing Trust Fund.
  
  
• Talk to your family, neighbors, friends, church community and tell them to VOTE YES for HOUSING by supporting the Housing Trust Fund.
  
  
• Attend Upcoming Council Meetings and speak up!
  
  
• VOTE YES on Election Day!

• September 6th – Kickoff Rally – 6pm at Ashe Cultural Arts Center
  
  
• September 9th – Quality of Life Committee – HTF Ordinance introduced, 1pm at City Hall
  
  
• September 19th – City Council to take up HTF Ordinance
  
  
• October 8th – 11th – City Council Budget Hearings
  October 18th – 29th – Early Voting
  
  
• November 5th– Election Day! Vote YES for Housing – Vote YES for the Housing Trust Fund!