Housing Assistance Programs are available for families with low-income, the disabled, and the senior members of the community. These programs are run at the state or local level to support the long-term goal of ending homelessness. For more details about the program, please keep reading this article.
North Carolina Emergency Management
N.C. Emergency Management works in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The two organizations work for the good of North Carolina residents. They provide both short-term and long-term housing solutions to displaced families as a result of a disaster. Who qualifies for support? Well, both renters and homeowners who live in areas affected by disaster qualify for assistance. You must provide proof that you are the homeowner and that it is your primary residence. The two agencies will still help you secure safe housing if you do not have insurance. You may still apply for support. Together, the two agencies run the following programs:
- Temporary Rental Assistance. Have your home undergone destruction as a result of a disaster? Whether it was caused by fire or flood, you can always get rental assistance for at least two months. Once you qualify for the program assistance, you will be taken to rentals near your damaged home. If you may need extra support services at the end of the two months, the program may provide further assistance. find out more at https://www.fema.gov/news-release/20200220/la-asistencia-para-alquiler-de-fema-puede-ser-la-mejor-solucion-de-vivienda.
- Transitional Shelter Assistance. Of course, getting enough rentals for families in certain areas can be a problem. If you cannot manage to maintain a residence in your home and find it difficult to obtain rentals nearby, you can always stay in a hotel for some time. That is until FEMA finds a short-term rental housing solution to families in need of support. Don’t worry about the bills, the program funds will cover that. To get support, ensure you first make an application with FEMA and be eligible for federal disaster assistance. Your home must be located in one of the disaster-affected counties since this program is only activated in the impacted areas.
- Disaster Housing Program. The Disaster Housing Program works with disaster-affected families to fix homes that have been damaged. The program is funded by N.C. General Assembly through the Crisis Housing Assistance Fund is designed to address the unmet housing needs of the residents of North Carolina. Need a place to live while your home is being fixed? You can send your application by registering at http://www.disasterassistance.gov/.
- For more details, please visit https://www.readync.org/recover-and-rebuild/individual-assistance/housing-assistance.
North Carolina Housing Finance Agency – Assistance with Buying a Home
The North Carolina Housing Finance Agency has helped thousands of residents of North Carolina too but homes they dream for. How does the agency help? The agency assists families by availing several options for financing to make housing more affordable to families with low-income. one of the programs they offer is NC Home Advantage Mortgage. The program offers up to 5% of the amount of loan offered as down payment assistance. The program is provided to both move=in and first-time homebuyers and is accessible at https://www.nchfa.com/home-buyers/buy-home/nc-home-advantage-mortgage. The NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment program is another option a family can always choose to make their homeownership dream come true. The program is exclusively for first-time homebuyers and military veterans. The program offers up to $8,000 to help with the down payment. Visit https://www.nchfa.com/home-buyers/buy-home/nc-1st-home-advantage-down-payment to apply for the program support. The agency also provides the NC Home Advantage Tax Credit benefits. With this program, families can save up to $2,000 every year in federal taxes. Although, the program is only available for the homebuyers who qualify for the Mortgage Credit Certificate before they purchase a home. The program can be combined with the NC Home Advantage Mortgage. Please visit https://www.nchfa.com/home-buyers/buy-home/mortgage-credit-certificate to read more about the program. For more details, visit https://www.nchfa.com/home-buyers/buy-home.
North Carolina Emergency Solutions Grant
The purpose of the NC Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG) is to provide housing support to families facing homelessness or those at risk of becoming homeless. The program is administered by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and receives funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program funds are distributed to the local non-profit and government agencies that run the program activities. The funds are used to provide homeless services, including emergency shelter, rapid-rehousing, case management, street outreach, and homelessness prevention services. Visit https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/aging-and-adult-services/nc-emergency-solutions-grant to learn more about the program.
Housing and Home Improvement Assistance Program
The Housing and Home Improvement Assistance program works to help individuals and families become knowledgeable about the existing housing resources in the community. The focus is for low-income families to have access to quality life and achieve stability and self-sufficiency by making use of the state and federal housing programs. Find out more at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/assistance/low-income-services/housing-home-improvement-assistance.
North Carolina Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
The Section 8 Housing program helps low-income families through rental support. The program aims to help families obtain quality housing they can afford while taking care of other household expenses. The program subsidizes a portion of the applicants’ rent to enable them to live a quality life in the community. How does the program work? Low-income families are encouraged to apply if they meet the program eligibility requirements. You will choose a housing unit in the private housing market. It can be a townhouse, a single-family home, or an apartments. The housing conditions must meet the quality standards of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Once you are approved for the assistance, the Public Housing Authority in your area will put you on a waiting list which will determine when you get assistance based on the availability of the program funds. The PHAs manage this program at the local level and are in charge of processing applications of low-income families. The program participants pay 30% or 40% of their income towards rent. The program funds will cover the rest of the payments, which are directly handed to the landlords in form of housing vouchers. For more details, please visit https://www.hud.gov/states/north_carolina/renting.
North Carolina Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
The North Carolina LIHEAP is a federal program designed to help low-income families struggling with energy bills. The program work to ensure that all families are kept out of the harsh weather. Facing threats of disconnection from the energy source? The program offers additional funds for crisis intervention. The funds are offered in form of grants and are directed to families facing heating or cooling emergencies. The program also provides help to families with inoperable heating or cooling equipment. The program offers replacement/repair tools for such families. The goal is to help improve energy efficiency in low-income homes. Who qualifies for the program assistance? You must meet the income and citizenship requirements to be considered for the program support. You must be a resident of North Carolina State. Find out more at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/assistance/low-income-services/low-income-energy-assistance.
USDA’s Single-Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants in North Carolina
The program provides financial support to low-income families through loans and grants. The purpose of the program loans is to help families repair and renovate their homes for more safety. The grants, on the other hand, are given to the senior homeowners to help them remove the threats that could tamper with their health and safety in their homes. You must, however, provide proof of homeownership and that you occupy the house. Your income should not exceed 50% of the area median income and ensure you meet the citizenship requirements. For grants, seniors must be 62 years or older and demonstrate an inability to make repayments. You will only repay the grant if you resell or change the ownership of the property within three years of receiving the program assistance. Visit http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do?pageAction=sfpd to find out if your home address is eligible for the program assistance. find out more at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-repair-loans-grants/nc.
USDA’s Single-Family Housing Direct Home Loans in North Carolina
The program work to support low-income families in obtaining quality housing in the USDA-eligible areas. The purpose of the program is to enhance the repayment ability of the applicants and reduce their mortgage payments for a while. But what criteria do the Rural Development team use to determine applicants’ qualifications? You must have income not exceeding 50% of the area median income, demonstrate the need for financial support, and be willing to use the property as your primary residence. You must also meet citizenship requirements and provide proof of the previous trial to obtain loon from other conventional programs without success. Find out more at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-direct-home-loans/nc.