NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — New Orleans voters will decide whether to dedicate millions of local tax dollars to affordable housing. The proposition will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot. According to a 2024 report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition and Housing Louisiana, housing costs in Orleans Parish are the highest in the state. In Central City, the historic Louisiana Avenue Firehouse, that has been vacant for years, will soon undergo a transformation. “The end product will consist of seven affordable apartment units with long-lasting affordability and an early childhood development center downstairs, which addresses two of the city's most urgent needs,” said People's Housing+ CEO Oji Alexander during a Wednesday press conference. (WGNO/Renaldo Ruffin)(WGNO/Renaldo Ruffin)(WGNO/Renaldo Ruffin)(WGNO/Renaldo Ruffin) New Orleans officials say the upcoming ballot proposition would support similar developments in the future. Voters will decide on a charter amendment that would allow two percent of the city's general fund to be redirected to the Housing Trust Fund. According to Councilwoman Lesli Harris, the dedication would generate up to $20 million for affordable housing. “It's not a new tax,” Harris explained. “It is literally a savings account for money that's already there, that is in the general fund that will be put towards creating and rehabilitating affordable housing.” Hurricanes force changes to Florida’s election procedures The Bureau of Governmental Research released a report on Wednesday in which the group opposed the ballot proposition. Stephen Stuart, the group's senior vice president and research director, says they believe the proposition would create a restrictive funding dedication in the city charter, making it more difficult for the city to resolve fiscal challenges in other areas of government. Stuart also states the city can provide new funding for housing through less constraining means. Harris says, by amending the city charter, the funding is guaranteed, which benefits all New Orleanians. “Making sure that we have stable housing in the City of New Orleans is critical,” said Harris. “If you think about housing as infrastructure, which is how I think about it, making sure that our infrastructure is sound to keep people in the city is critical to make sure that our entire city grows and thrives in the future.” Voters will vote ‘yes’ if they support the plan, and they’ll vote ‘no’ if they oppose it. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts 5 takeaways from the Arizona Senate debate Cooler temperatures, clear skies expected for NOLA through the weekend NOPD searching for two suspects in CBD business burglary NOFD responds to Irish Channel house fire Watch: Massive 28-foot wave captured inside Hurricane Milton