Housing & Community Development

The primary mission of the Orange County Housing and Community Development Department is to promote adequate and affordable housing, economic opportunity and a suitable living environment free from discrimination.

Family at Playground

To achieve this mission, the Department has the following strategic goals:

  • Expand the supply of assisted housing
  • Improve the quality of assisted housing
  • Increase assisted housing choices
  • Ensure equal opportunity and affirmatively further fair housing

Rental Assistance Programs Offered by the County

Orange County offers several rental assistance programs.

  • The new Local Voucher Program (administered by the Orange County Housing Authority but local funds)
  • The Risk Mitigation & Housing Displacement Fund (which has the following components and is administered by the Housing and Community Development Department)
    • Risk Mitigation funds (landlords only)
    • Housing Stabilization funds (utility and security deposits, etc.)
    • Displacement funds (only for participants under the DMAP Program or other urgent community need)
  • Rapid Re-Housing Program (administered by the Housing and Community Development Department)
  • Housing Choice Voucher Program (administered by the Orange County Housing Authority with federal funds)

HOME Program

Orange County is an entitlement community under U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) HOME Investment Partnership Program. Under this program, local government join together to form a consortium to receive HOME funding for affordable housing. Orange County's HOME Consortium is made up of four members: Orange County and the towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough.

Resource Guide

For housing and other resources in the Orange County community, please see the Orange County Resource Guide (PDF).

HOME Applications for 2020-21

HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) provides formula grants to states and local communities that (often in partnership with local nonprofit groups) fund a wide range of activities including construction, acquisition, and/or rehabilitating affordable housing for rent or homeownership, or to provide direct rental assistance to low-income people.

Orange County’s HOME funding applications are accepted once a year and are reviewed by the Orange County Home Consortium Committee, known as the Local Government Affordable Housing Collaborative. The Collaborative is comprised of staff and elected officials from the Towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough, and Orange County. A recommended funding plan is reviewed for approval by each jurisdiction in the Spring of every year.

  • Click here to view the scorecard used to assess each application.