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Longtime Homeowners Assistance (LHA) Program
If you own your home and are having trouble paying this year’s property tax bill, we may be able to help. Each year, the Housing Department collects applications from Orange County residents to help pay for the current year's tax bill. Assistance may, but is not guaranteed to, cover the entire Orange County portion of your property tax bill.
Program Timeframe: August-November
For 2025, The Housing Department will accept applications from August 1 until November 3.
The application window is Closed.
Program Eligibility
To be eligible for Longtime Homeowners Assistance, you must
- Have owned and lived in your Orange County home for at least 5 years.
- Earn at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI -- determined by household size)*
- Own a home below the set property value limits.* Staff might be able to make exceptions to property value limits if:
- Someone 70 or older lives in your household.
- Someone in your household has a documented disability, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD).
*Income and property home value limits change every year. We will post updated information here during the application period.
2025 Income Limits are below (full AMIs can be found at this link).
| Persons In Family | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Low (80%) Income Limits ($) | 64,750 | 74,000 | 83,250 | 92,500 | 99,900 | 107,300 | 114,700 | 122,100 |
2024 Home Value Limits are below (full limits can be found at this link).
| House Size | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | 3 Bedroom | 4 Bedroom |
| Home Value Limit | $403,000 | $515,000 | $624,000 | $773,000 |
Three Ways to Apply: August-November
- Use our online portal. A link is posted here when the application period is active.
- Pick up/drop off a paper application at one of our Housing Department locations:
- Southern Human Services Center
2501 Homestead Rd., Chapel Hill, NC 27516 - The Whitted Human Services Building, Third Floor
300 W. Tryon St., Hillsborough, NC 27278
- Southern Human Services Center
- Book an appointment with Willie Hilliard for assistance filling out the application. Schedule online or call 919-245-2624. Appointments will be available from 9am - 4pm. If you reach his voicemail, please leave a detailed message, your phone number, and your email address if you have one. Your call will be returned in the order in which it was received.
Payments: Late December
In late December, the Housing Department will contact you to let you know how much of your tax bill the county can help with. If you are eligible for help, a payment will be applied to your tax bill. If you have already paid your tax bill, the county will reimburse you for the approved amount. If you are not eligible for assistance, we will explain why and may refer you to other tax assistance programs.
Program Contact
Willie Hilliard, Community Development Program Analyst
housing_email@orangecountync.gov
(919) 245-2624
The Orange County Housing Department administers Longtime Homeowners Assistance (LHA) program in collaboration with the Orange County Tax Office and the Orange County Finance Department.