Housing affordability, aging in place, property tax relief, and stronger advocacy for older adults were key topics at the June 2-3 General Session of the N.C. Senior Tar Heel Legislature (NCSTHL) held in Winston-Salem. Dr. Althea Taylor Jones, Forsyth County delegate, co-host for the 2026 sessions and NCSTHL Advocacy Committee chairperson, welcomed and joined members from across North Carolina to review policy priorities and prepare recommendations for state policymakers.
Dan Curry, a volunteer member of the AARP N.C. Executive Council and Triad Region Leadership Team, outlined state policy priorities to expand affordable housing, support aging in place, and strengthen housing options for older adults and families. His presentation highlighted investment in the North Carolina Housing Trust Fund, property tax relief, accessory dwelling units, and efforts to reduce barriers to housing development.
Kay Costillo, executive director of the N.C. Coalition on Aging, encouraged members to strengthen their advocacy by moving “from advocacy to influence.” She emphasized relationship-building with elected officials, clear advocacy plans, legislative research, and concise messages that help advance issues affecting older adults.
Tammy Koger, director of the N.C. Division of Aging, described efforts to align programs, funding, and operational priorities with measurable indicators of need. Her remarks pointed to a data-informed approach for planning future aging services and strengthening North Carolina’s aging services network.
With the increased in-migration of older adults, affordable housing as well as social isolation have become critical issues within Forsyth County, as well as across the state. Both issues increase caregiver burden, and negatively impacts successful aging, and in many instances longevity.
Learn more about NCSTHL at www.ncsthl.org, or contact Allison Brown, NCSTHL interim public relations chair, at ncsthlpr@gmail.com or 336 940 8185.
Please visit the Piedmont Triad Council of Governments, Area Agency on Aging, for additional local resources at www.ptrc.org.
About the North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature:
Established by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1993, the North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature is a nonpartisan body representing all 100 counties. Its mission is to identify issues affecting older adults and propose policy solutions that improve quality of life statewide. Delegates are supported by North Carolina’s Area Agencies on Aging across sixteen service areas