Anti-Displacement

Physical displacement is the result of eviction, acquisition, rehabilitation, or demolition of property or the expiration of covenants on rent- or income-restricted housing. Economic displacement occurs when residents and businesses can no longer afford escalating rents or property taxes. 

Displacement is often the result of new investments in historically underserved areas. While these investments are oftentimes desirable, they can foster displacement if existing communities do not have the opportunity to share in the potential benefits.  

Some residents and businesses struggle to “stay in place” as communities change around them, and they can be left out of benefits that come from this growth. These changes can result in the displacement of residents, including low-income renters, seniors, and persons of color, and small businesses. The loss of long-time residents and local businesses weakens the social fabric of a community.  

• Direct displacement occurs when residents can no longer afford to remain in their homes due to rising housing costs.

• Indirect displacement occurs when vacant units are no longer affordable for low-income residents because rents and sales prices have increased.

• Cultural displacement occurs when shops and services shift to focus on new residents, and the neighborhood character transforms. Longer-term residents may feel  disconnected from their community despite still living there.

While there is no silver bullet to combat the involuntary displacement that can result from public and private investment in areas of need, there are tools that have been proven to contribute to residents and businesses staying in place, even when their neighborhoods are changing relatively quickly.

The city is taking a holistic approach to help mitigate involuntary displacement, and has many tools and resources to help with household stability and supporting residents who want to “stay in place” as neighborhood change occurs. This approach is represented in the below diagram, and includes four primary approaches: leveraging data and technology, leveraging current programs and initiatives, developing new tools and strategies, and continuing robust community engagement. To help guide the city’s anti-displacement efforts, the city, in partnership with the Neighborhood Equity and Stabilization (NEST) Commission, developed the Anti-Displacement Strategy. The strategy includes four goals (support residents, strengthen communities, foster inclusivity, and empower businesses) and builds upon the Housing Charlotte Framework, City Council priorities and key initiatives, and is inclusive of recommendations from the Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

The Anti-Displacement Strategy gathers the city’s strategies, tools, and resources and aligns them in ways that best support residents who wish to stay in their homes and communities. The strategy, designed in partnership with the NEST Commission, will help guide the city’s efforts to mitigate displacement while continuing to support growth. It provides a comprehensive, community-driven strategy to address the causes of displacement and build stability and opportunity for all residents and communities. The strategy also offers guidance for investing resources in a way that is implementable, accountable, and transparent.  

The anti-displacement strategy has four main goals:

1. Support residents by providing housing stability at the household and neighborhood levels.

2. Strengthen communities by preserving social capital and helping communities plan and advocate for future needs.

3. Foster inclusivity by building trust and operating transparently. Ensure diverse participation in decision-making about displacement.

4. Empower businesses by retaining legacy businesses and supporting local entrepreneurship.

The strategy has more than 20 strategies, but six are top priorities:

1. Expand the preservation of naturally occurring affordable rental housing, with a focus on high-risk neighborhoods and areas of opportunity.

2. Increase access to homeownership for low- and moderate-income homebuyers, with a focus on high-risk neighborhoods.

3. Conduct engagement with property owners in high-risk neighborhoods to increase the impacts of anti-displacement programs.

4. Develop a “community toolkit” of resources to lift community voices and work with communities to jointly address community-defined anti-displacement priorities.

5. Ensure inclusive governance and public accountability in the City’s anti-displacement work.

6. Conduct transparent, culturally competent, and accessible communication with communities facing displacement.

See the Community Toolkit for city programs and resources that can help residents with neighborhood and household stability as communities around them change. This is a living toolkit, and will continue to evolve over time.

The Charlotte Neighborhood Equity and Stabilization (NEST) Commission was approved through the adoption of the Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan and is charged with reviewing and recommending specific anti-displacement strategies and tools for protecting residents of moderate to high vulnerability of displacement. 

Learn about the NEST Commission’s work