The journey to buying a home can be daunting, but for those with a lower income, it can seem almost impossible. To help, Wake County and DHIC Inc. are launching The Affordable Homeownership Program, which provides forgivable loans to eligible first-time home buyers or assistance with foreclosure prevention.

This program will support homeownership opportunities and wealth building among low-to-moderate income households that are increasingly excluded from homeownership due to the growing demand for the county’s limited housing supply.

“Wake County’s housing market continues to skyrocket, moving the dream of homeownership out of reach for many households,” said Wake County Board of Commissioners Chair Matt Calabria. “Ensuring that anyone, regardless of background, has an opportunity to buy a home or keep their existing home is at the core of our board goals and reflected in our theme of working to provide prosperity for all.”

Approximately $475,000 in loan funds will be available to kickstart the 2021 program year. First-time homebuyers and homeowners earning up to 80% of the area median income (AMI) may apply for loans of up to $20,000 for home purchase assistance or foreclosure prevention. The program is open to all residents outside of the Raleigh or Cary municipal jurisdictions, which are excluded due to the federal funding sources of these municipalities.

As the program administrator, DHIC will work with interested applicants and provide the appropriate education and counseling services to help them on their journey to buying or remaining in their home.

“Partnering with Wake County to serve as the program administrator is a natural fit for our organization. DHIC has been a leader in assisting first-time homebuyers with pre-purchase and post-purchase counseling for decades. Our dedicated team of homeownership advisors is committed to helping clients achieve their dream of homeownership,” said Yolanda Winstead, President and CEO, DHIC.

The Affordable Homeownership Program is designed to be used with other programs for first-time homebuyers, such as those administered by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency.

To qualify, applicants must:

• Have a household income that doesn’t exceed 80% AMI;
• Be a first-time homebuyer; and
• Be purchasing a home or residing outside of the Raleigh or Cary municipal jurisdictions.
   

Interested residents can visit dhic.org or call 919-615-3720 to learn more and start the application process.

​The Wake County Board of Commissioners is continuing its efforts to expand affordable housing in our county. At its regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 4, the board unanimously approved a loan of $3 million to support the construction of Broadstone Walk Apartments, an affordable family housing development to be located in Apex. This project will bring 164 apartments with rent within the budget of many more families.

“It’s critically important that we give people who are struggling a path to safe, affordable housing,” said Commissioners Chair Matt Calabria. “Many families across Wake County are still struggling due to the economic impacts of the pandemic. Financing opportunities such as this are tremendously beneficial to the community.”

The new units – located on S. Hughes Street in Apex – will offer 60 units to households earning less than 50% of the annual median income (AMI). Construction is set to be completed in 2023 and will include one, two and three-bedroom apartments. The complex would also include a playground, community room, computer center, laundry facility and outdoor recreation area.

Rent for each unit will range between $699 and $1,574 depending on size and income level. The developers will also set aside 12% of the units at Broadstone Walk for the Wake County’s rental assistance program, which provides rental subsidies and case management services for select groups of residents who are at a higher risk of becoming homeless.

The board’s actions today directly support the 20-year Affordable Housing Plan approved in Oct. 2017. Funding for the project comes from the Housing Affordability and Community Revitalization CIP Fund.

“Stable and affordable housing is a foundation for the health and well-being of everyone in our county,” said Deputy Director of the Housing Affordability and Community Revitalization Department Ed Barberio. “A project like Broadstone Walk is a great step in the right direction but we know there’s more we can do ensure every resident has a stable roof over their heads. By using private and public sector partnerships, we can make affordable housing more available for all of Wake County’s residents.” 

The new complex will be developed by the Downtown Housing Improvement Corporation (DHIC), a non-profit housing developer based in Raleigh with more than 46 years of experience connecting people with safe, affordable homes in the Triangle.

In May, the Board approved $10.2 million in awards for 784 new units. Broadstone Walk was one of those proposals requesting funding but did not receive the competitive 9% tax credit from the NC Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA). DHIC has re-submitted the development as a 4% tax-exempt bond development and is leveraging additional funding from the Town of Apex.

​Those behind on rent or facing a possible eviction now have more time to apply for assistance. The House Wake! COVID-19 Eviction Prevention Program has extended the application deadline to Jan. 31, to continue to run alongside the extended eviction moratorium.

“The pandemic has triggered job losses and reductions in hours that continue to put many families behind on their rent,” said Wake County Commissioner Shinica Thomas. “Business closures and other changes have burdened many families with paying for additional childcare as well. Unless we continue to offer help, we’re just delaying a wave of evictions, with possibly thousands of residents losing the roofs over their heads.”

The House Wake! Eviction Prevention Program was set to expire Dec. 30, but by extending the program through January, it will continue to provide help to households who have found themselves behind on rent or are already in eviction proceedings.

The House Wake! COVID-19 Eviction Prevention Program consists of a three-step process:

1. Eviction Prevention
   Through a partnership with the Telamon Corporation, the county helps tenants and landlords cover rent shortfalls, resulting from a loss of income due to COVID-19. House Wake! pays 100% of up to six months of approved tenants’ back rent owed from March 2020 through January 2021. In return, the landlords must agree to forgive the remaining rent owed and offer to discount rent by 25% for three months after assistance ends.
    
2. Eviction Mediation Services
   Through a partnership with Legal Aid of North Carolina, the county provides free legal support for tenants who need legal counsel for mediation services or to negotiate filed evictions with landlords; and
    
3. Relocation Assistance
   The county helps relocate residents whose housing situations could not be stabilized through steps 1 or 2.

Telamon Corporation will continue to act as administrator for step 1 of the program. To date, they have received more than 1,800 applications. Eviction mediation services and relocation assistance offered in steps 2 and 3 of the program will continue through at least June 2021.

“We’re excited that Telamon can continue to administer the program into the new year,” said Telamon Corporation CEO Suzanne Orozco. “Many households are still struggling in our community and we did not want to turn someone in need away. This extension will allow us to bring the maximum number of residents to stable housing possible and help landlords regain their loss of income.”

Residents can visit wakegov.com/housing or call 919-899-9911 to learn more and apply.

Tenants and landlords who have previously applied and received less than six months of the support available can request to have the month of January covered, as well.

About House Wake!
House Wake! is a strategic plan to minimize the effects of COVID-19 on homeless and precariously housed Wake County residents, while maximizing opportunities for positive long-term outcomes.

This plan uses and coordinates federal, state and local funding to address the COVID-19 crisis within our homeless and precariously housed populations and aims to move the maximum number of people possible to housing stability.

​If you’re behind on rent or facing eviction, there’s still time to apply for help through the House Wake! COVID-19 Eviction Prevention Program. Applications are being accepted until midnight Wednesday, Dec. 30.

“With the national moratorium on evictions set to expire at the end of the month, those struggling due to COVID-19 are fearful they won’t be able to stay in their homes,” said Wake County Board of Commissioners Chairman Greg Ford. “We encourage anyone who is struggling to pay rent or facing eviction to act fast and apply for assistance online or over the phone.”

The House Wake! COVID-19 Eviction Prevention Program consists of a three-step process:

1.      Eviction Prevention
Through a partnership with the Telamon Corporation, the county helps tenants and landlords cover rent shortfalls, resulting from a loss of income due to COVID-19. House Wake! pays 100% of up to six months of approved tenants’ back rent owed from March through December 2020. In return, the landlords must agree to forgive the remaining rent owed and offer to discount rent by 25% for January through March 2021.
 

2.     Eviction Mediation Services
Through a partnership with Legal Aid of North Carolina, the county provides free legal support for tenants who need legal counsel for mediation services or to negotiate filed evictions with landlords; and
 

3.      Relocation Assistance
The county helps relocate residents whose housing situations could not be stabilized through steps 1 or 2.

Eligible applicants must:

• Be a renter legally residing in Wake County;
• Have a legally binding North Carolina lease that covers the assistance period;
• Demonstrate that they have suffered financially from COVID-19; and
• Not receive any other forms of rental assistance such as Housing Choice Vouchers, NC HOPE, Section 8 or senior housing subsidies.

While there are no income requirements, priority is given to residents with an income that does not exceed 80% of area median income (AMI) at the end of 2019 or pre-COVID-19.

Residents can visit wakegov.com/housing or call 919-899-9911 to learn more and apply.

About House Wake!

House Wake! is a strategic plan to minimize the effects of COVID-19 on homeless and precariously housed Wake County residents, while maximizing opportunities for positive long-term outcomes.

This plan uses and coordinates federal, state and local funding to address the COVID-19 crisis within our homeless and precariously housed populations and aims to move the maximum number of people possible to housing stability.

The Wake County Department of Housing Affordability & Community Revitalization has been working diligently to respond to the needs of our County’s most vulnerable populations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wake County has committed nearly $11.5 million in federal funding for these efforts through Phase I of the House Wake! Strategic Plan, with over $5.77 million of this funding available directly to partnering community agencies. 

We are excited to announce that through the House Wake! Strategic Plan we have partnered with thirteen key community organizations to provide much needed services to vulnerable populations including individuals, families, youth, victims of domestic violence, and justice involved youth and adults. This partnership will ensure that these populations have access to housing assistance, street outreach, temporary housing, and case management. 

Congratulations to the following community organizations on being awarded funds for their incredibly important work: 

• Oak City Cares 
• The Raleigh Wake Partnership to End and Prevent Homelessness 
• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh
• InterAct 
• Families Together 
• Haven House
• Triangle Family Services
• Passage Home 
• Capital Area Workforce Development 
• The Green Chair Project 
• Healing Transitions 
• The Salvation Army of Wake County 
• Urban Ministries of Wake County  

This chart provides more details including a brief description of the services the agencies are providing and the amount of funding for each activity. 

Wake County will continue to monitor and respond to our community’s needs so that every person has access to safe, affordable housing during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. 

The CARES Act, H.R. 748, signed into law on March 27, 2020, provides additional flexible funding to state, local, tribal and territorial governments, and public agencies, through familiar and new programs that can be used to address housing instability and homelessness. 

• $1,258,790 through Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) 
• $626,800 through Emergency Services Grants (ESG) 
• $132,656 through Housing Assistance for Persons with Aids (HOPWA) 
• Up to $193M through the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) *Only a portion of CRF funding will be available for the House Wake! Plan*

In addition to these four programs, other housing-related funding in the CARES Act for which Wake County may apply includes FEMA Public Assistance, available to provide homeless services, and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). 

Documents related to this plan are listed below: 

• Wake County House Wake! Strategic Plan Info Packet 
• Request for Letters of Interest *Required for submission*
• COVID-19 LOI Questions & Answers
• Budget Matrix *Required for submission*
• Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) Guidance for State, Territorial, Local and Tribal Governments
• CRF Frequently Asked Questions

Responses, questions and/or comments should be emailed to Housing.Info@wake.gov with the subject line: House Wake!