Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, the Orange County Housing Department will use a lower income limit to determine eligibility for households requesting emergency assistance with rent, utilities and other associated housing costs. There will also be a $6,000 cap on the amount of funding a household can receive in a calendar year. The chart below outlines program changes and income limits.
In collaboration with the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough, the Orange County Housing Department has administered the Emergency Housing Assistance (EHA) program since early 2020. Full program information, including applications and the online application portal, can be found here.
Funding for the EHA program has come from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and community development block grants (CDBG-CV) to address the profound housing challenges brought about by the pandemic. Funds from those sources are set to run out in 2023.
“Emergency housing assistance has been successful in keeping individuals and families from being evicted and experiencing homelessness,” said Corey Root, Orange County Director of Housing. “The need for help went up dramatically during COVID, and it remains high.”
The Orange County Housing Department offers a variety of trauma-informed programs to help low income residents remain in their homes or help those experiencing homelessness to find temporary shelter and long-term housing. Services include: emergency housing assistance, housing choice vouchers (formerly known as Section 8), housing repair and rehabilitation, property tax assistance for longtime homeowners, street outreach, and a housing helpline. For more information, visit the Orange County Housing Department website.
IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING A HOUSING CRISIS:
- Call the Housing Helpline 919-245-2655, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. to speak with a member of our staff. Voicemails may be left anytime.
- Email housinghelp@orangecountync.gov
- Drop by for in-person hours
- Mondays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.; IFC Commons, 110 West Main St, Carrboro
- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Southern Human Services Center, 2501 Homestead Rd, Chapel Hill
As of Jan. 1, 2023, Orange County Emergency Housing Assistance (EHA) will be available only to extremely low-income households. Households can receive no more than $6,000 each calendar year.
| No. of persons in household | Income limit |
| 1 | $20,100 |
| 2 | $22,950 |
| 3 | $25,800 |
| 4 | $28,650 |
| 5 | $32,470 |
| 6 | $37,190 |
| 7 | $41,910 |
| 8 | $46,630 |