The Orange County Board of Commissioners continued funding for the Emergency Housing Assistance program in its 2024-25 budget with expanded eligibility that will target assistance to residents before they enter formal eviction proceedings.
Prior to the changes, a person had to have an active court summons for eviction to receive assistance. Now, eligibility is extended to anyone earning at or less than 30% Adjusted Median Income who has experienced a Life-Changing Event to someone in the household who was contributing toward rent. A Life-Changing Event means death, serious illness, or loss of job.
Due to a reduction in available funding, assistance will be limited to 12 clients per month. The maximum payout has been reduced from $5,000 to $4,500, and clients can receive assistance once per year. Assistance can only go toward paying a full month’s rent. No partial months will be paid to “max out” the allowable amount. In addition, clients will be required to complete a written plan for making future rental payments as a condition of assistance.
“We are grateful to have a Board who recognizes the tremendous housing need in our county and understands the urgency of helping those who are most vulnerable,” said Blake Rosser, Orange County’s Interim Housing Director. “We had been worried about our EHA program disappearing completely as we exhausted federal pandemic funds, but the Board showed real dedication to a problem that has only gotten worse over the last few years. We will now be able to assist clients more ‘upstream’ than eviction court, which will hopefully lead to fewer penalties for them as they secure housing in the future.”
How to apply
Option 1: Online
We use Submittable to process EHA applications. Click here.
Option 2: Pick up an application
Hillsborough - Whitted Building, 300 W. Tryon St, 3rd floor (Google Map | Circulator Route) or
Chapel Hill - Southern Human Services Center, 2501 Homestead Rd (Google Map | HS Bus Route)
Option 3: Contact Housing Helpline
Call 919-245-2655, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. or Email housinghelp@orangecountync.gov, anytime.