Hearing discusses affordable housing for those with disabilities

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — One obstacle for people with disabilities who live on a fixed income is finding affordable housing. Thursday afternoon, some faced another obstacle while trying to attend a meeting about the housing problem.

Legal Aid, the Cape Fear Affordable Housing Coalition, and Wilmington Disability Resource Center held a public hearing today on the third floor of the library downtown.

Unfortunately, a sign on the elevator says it does not always work, making the meeting not the easiest to get to for some.

Once people got inside, they discussed how the average rent for a one-bedroom unit is around $700.

That is about $50 less than their fixed monthly disability payments.

One man, who lives out of his car, says he hopes something can be done.

“I’m in dialysis three days out of the week. I go to the shelter to try to get a place to stay, and they turn me down because after leaving dialysis I’m so weak and tired that they do not let you lay down inside the shelter to stay there during the daytime,” said Melvin Wilson.

No elected leaders attended the meeting.

As for the elevator, library staff says they’re trying to fix it, but it’s hard to diagnose the problem when it works off and on.