Housing officials hear tough talk: Initiative founder says it's time to do more for affordable housing.

Byline: Mary Giunca

Apr. 25--After listening yesterday morning to a group of local and state housing officials talk about the barriers to building affordable housing, the founder of the North Carolina Community Development Initiative Inc. told the audience that he didn't want to hear any more of their excuses and that they needed to find the will to do what is right for their communities.

In a wide-ranging talk, that at times sounded more like a sermon, Abdul Rasheed urged his audience to go to work. Rasheed spoke at the Housing Professionals Summit at Joel Coliseum.

"Whatever you're doing, you have to do more," Rasheed said. "The problem isn't …