On December 1, 1952, the Board of County Commissioners of Wake County, North Carolina, by resolution, declared the need for a Housing Authority. On February 2, 1953, the Chairman of the Board of the County Commissioners appointed the members, and on March 9, 1953, the first meeting of the Wake County Housing Authority (WCHA) was held and authorized to transact business and exercise its powers in the County of Wake.
As stated by the WCHA Board at that time, there was a need for low rent public housing at rents within the means of low-income families, especially families of living or deceased veterans and servicemen, which need is not being met by private enterprise; and such condition constitutes a menace to the health, safety, morals and welfare of the inhabitants.
In 1964, the WCHA built public housing in Apex, Wendell, Zebulon and Wake Forest. As the need continued to grow, in 1978, ninety-two additional units were obtained in Wake Forest, and in 1981 and 1983 there was more new construction in Fuquay-Varina and Zebulon, respectively.
Today, the Wake County Housing Authority has 345 public housing units and provides Section 8 vouchers to over 400 participants. The WCHA also manages six rental houses for its affiliate, the Wake County Housing Finance Corporation (WCHFC). As the need for affordable housing continues to be great in the county, the Housing Authority continues to explore ways to increase the housing stock.
