Emergency Housing Assistance

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Emergency Housing Assistance (EHA)

The Emergency Housing Assistance fund was created under the Risk Mitigation and Housing Displacement Fund to help Orange County residents with low incomes secure and maintain stable housing. Assistance is available to households in Orange County that:

1. Earn no more than 60% of the area median income (AMI), 
2. Have an urgent need for housing assistance that is related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and 
3. Do not have adequate savings or resources to cover the cost of their housing need.

The most current income limits for Orange County are below:

• 1-person household: $38,220
• 2-person household: $43,680
• 3-person household: $49,140
• 4-person household: $54,540
• 5-person household: $58,920
• 6-person household: $63,084
• 7-person household: $67,680
• 8-person household: $72,000

Eligible Costs 

Emergency Housing Assistance may pay for security deposits, utility connections and arrears, rental payments and arrears, and, in certain emergency situations and upon OCHCD approval, other urgent housing-related costs (e.g., moving costs), especially for hard-to-house individuals and families, such as large families with children, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, and people with justice system involvement. Emergency Housing Assistance may not duplicate any assistance provided by any other program.

Maximum Assistance

The total amount of assistance provided to any household may not exceed $6,500.

Rent and utility payments may only cover arrears and/or payments for the current month or next upcoming month; assistance will not be granted for months further in the future. For example, if an applicant applies on June 15, assistance may be granted to cover any arrears for past rent owed, rent owed in the current month (June), rent to be owed in the upcoming month (July), but not for rent owed in future months (August or beyond). However, applicants may request assistance again in future months, if needed, up to the $6,500 maximum.

Donating to the Emergency Housing Assistance (EHA) Fund

If you would like support the County’s work to prevent evictions and homelessness, please visit the Community Giving website to donate to the Emergency Housing Assistance Fund. Your donation will directly assist people experiencing housing emergencies in Orange County to remain stable in housing. Upon making your donation, please indicate that the funds should go towards the “Emergency Housing Assistance Fund” operated by the Orange County Department of Housing and Community Development.

Orange County Seeks State Funds for EHA

Orange County is applying for CDBG-CV funds from the NC Department of Commerce to go towards the Emergency Housing Assistance program. 

To see the County's draft application, click here: DRAFT Orange County 2020 NC CDBG-CV Application

To submit a public comment on this application, please email your comment to ebrandt@orangecountync.gov or click here for more information on opportunities for public comment.