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.
