HOME Program
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) provides formula grants to states and localities, called Participating Jurisdictions, to fund a wide range of affordable housing activities including building, buying, and/or rehabilitating affordable housing for rent or ownership.
In Orange County, the HOME Participating Jurisdiction is a Consortium consisting of Orange County and the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough, with the County acting as lead entity. In 2017, the Consortium was renamed the Orange County Local Government Affordable Housing Collaborative.
The Collaborative coordinates the funding process for the HOME program, accepts and reviews applications from local housing organizations, and presents recommendations to the elected bodies of each jurisdiction for funding approval. Past agencies that have received Orange County HOME funds have used HOME to:
- Provide down payment assistance to home buyers
- Acquire or develop affordable homes for rent or ownership
- Rehabilitate owner-occupied homes
- Provide tenant-based rental assistance
PLEASE NOTE: Individuals CANNOT directly apply for and receive HOME funds. The funds are awarded to organizations that then use HOME funds for the eligible purposes above.
HUD has awarded Orange County about $379,000 in HOME for 2021. In addition, the Towns and the County will collectively contribute $85,000 in local matching funds to the program, and there are funds available from prior years' program income and returned awards. In all, about $639,000 is available for award in the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 program cycle.
Program Contact
Erika Brandt
Housing and Community Development Manager
Email: ebrandt@orangecountync.gov
Phone: 919-245-4331
Mail: P.O. Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278
PLEASE NOTE: Individuals CANNOT directly apply for and receive HOME funds. The funds are awarded to organizations that then use HOME funds for the eligible purposes above.
News & Updates
Public comment is invited on the draft FY 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan, which lays out a plan for spending HOME funds were expended in the FY 2021-2022 program year.
Comments may be submitted by mail, email, or phone to Erika Brandt (contact information above) until April 28, 2021.
HOME Plans, Reports, and Forms
- The 2020-2025 Consolidated Plan is the Orange County HOME Consortium’s five-year plan for using HOME and other funds to address priority housing needs in the county. Other associated documents include:
- The 2020 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing identifies barriers in Orange County to affirmatively furthering fair housing.
- The Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan describes the County's responsibilities if HOME or other Federal funds are used for projects that result in displacement of low-income households or demolition of affordable units.
- The Citizen Participation Plan describes the County's process for involving residents in planning and funding decisions for Federal housing and community development funds.
- The 2021 Annual Action Planis the Consortium’s annual plan for FY 2021-2022 for using HOME funds.
- See the 2020 Annual Action Plan
- The 2019 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) reports on the progress toward goals identified in the Annual Action Plan over the past year and how HOME funds have been expended.
- The Fund Awardee Quarterly Report template is used by recipients of HOME and other County affordable housing funds to report on their activities during project development.
- The Orange County HOME Program Policies and Procedures Manualdescribes the policies and procedures for administering the Consortium's HOME program. The manual includes the following policies, among other guidelines:
HOME Application for FY21-22 Program
Orange County’s HOME funding applications are accepted once a year and are reviewed by the Collaborative, who provide a recommended funding plan is reviewed for approval by each jurisdiction in the spring of every year.
Applications for the FY21-22 HOME program were due to the Orange County Department of Housing and Community Development by 5:00 PM on February 26, 2021. See below for application materials