We, the residents of Wilmington, demand that the proposed housing funds in the FY 27 budget be invested in solutions that meet the urgent needs of our city's working families, seniors, and unhoused neighbors.

Wilmington is in a housing crisis. Rents are rising faster than wages. Longtime homeowners are being priced out by unfair tax assessments. Families are one missed paycheck away from eviction. And too many of our neighbors have nowhere to sleep at night.
We call on you to direct the city budget toward the following priorities:

-Build shelters and supportive housing units so people experiencing homelessness can move into safe, stable homes.

-Fund eviction prevention and emergency rental assistance to keep families housed during financial hardship.

-Convert the homeowner repair program from a lottery to a waitlist so every eligible homeowner has a fair shot at the help they need.

-Fix Wilmington's broken property tax assessment system so working families and longtime residents aren't forced out of their homes.

-Establish a Housing Trust to fund the development of permanently affordable housing for generations to come.

These investments will make Wilmington a city where working families can stay, where seniors can age in place, and where no one is left on the street. Anything less fails to meet the scale of the crisis our community faces.

We expect a public response detailing how you will allocate these funds and how community input will shape that decision.

Sincerely,

The undersigned residents of Wilmington