On Nov. 15, New Orleans voters will decide whether to approve three bond propositions, which together could provide an infusion of $510 million to support capital projects across the city. One $415 million bond would support a raft of infrastructure improvements to streets, roads and public facilities. Another $50 million bond would fund stormwater and drainage projects across the city.

But it’s the third item — a $45 million bond for affordable housing — that has become the most contentious going into the election.

The question of whether voters should approve this bond has divided some affordable housing advocates, who disagree as to whether bonds should be used at all to fund affordable housing.

Last year, New Orleans voters added a Housing Trust Fund to the city charter, which obligates the city to dedicate 2% of its general fund budget each year to affordable housing initiatives. Based on Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s proposed general fund budget, that would come out to $14.5 million next year, of which all but about $2.75 million, set aside for administrative expenses and a reserve fund, would be used for housing initiatives.

The money is overseen by an advisory committee made up of representatives from housing organizations across the city as well as political appointees.

Andreanecia Morris, president of the Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance and a co-chair of the committee, is opposed to the bond proposition because she believes it undermines the spirit of this new Housing Trust Fund. Morris’ organization, which has long been an influential voice on housing policy in the city, has sent out emails to supporters urging them to vote no on the housing bond proposition.

But Maxwell Ciardullo, a local housing advocate and the other co-chair of the committee, sees it differently.

“I think if we do this right, the bond money can be an additional source of funding on top of the roughly $12 million a year that the Housing Trust Fund provides,” Ciardullo told Verite News. “And I think bond money is especially important because it gives us upfront cash to pay for big expenses without raising taxes.”