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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-05-2021; 6-b - Longtime Homeowner Assistance (LHA) Program 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: October 5, 2021 Action Agenda Item No. 6-b SUBJECT: Longtime Homeowner Assistance (LHA) Program DEPARTMENT: Housing and Community Development ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Attachment 1 - LHA Application Draft Corey Root, Director, Housing and Attachment 2 - LHA Proposed Process Community Development, 919-245- Description 2492 Attachment 3 - LHA Draft Communication Nancy Freeman, Tax Administrator, Plan Orange County Tax Office, 919-245- 2735 Gary Donaldson, Chief Financial Officer, Orange County Finance, 919-245- 2453 PURPOSE: To approve the implementation of the proposed program design for the Longtime Homeowner Assistance Program. BACKGROUND: At its June 15, 2021 Business meeting, the Board of Commissioners allocated $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for a new program to assist households affected by revaluation of property tax bills. The current staff proposal creates a program to cover the increase in property taxes due to revaluation and would serve Orange County homeowners who: • are at least 50 years old; • earn below 80% of the area median income; • have lived in their home for at least 10 years; and • experienced an increase in property taxes during the 2021 tax revaluation. Staff from the Orange County Housing and Community Development Department (OCHCD), Tax Department, and Finance and Administrative Services Department met over the summer to coordinate, design and begin implementing the proposed program. Staff created a draft program application (Attachment 1), a proposed plan for reviewing and approving applications and outlining each department's role in process (Attachment 2), and a proposed communications and outreach strategy to share information about the program with County residents (Attachment 3). Housing and Community Development Department staff will be primarily responsible for administering the LHA program — collecting applications and supporting documentation from applicants, and verifying program eligibility for each applicant. The Orange County Housing Helpline will play a key role in assisting County residents with completing applications and 2 gathering documentation. The Tax Department will provide some of the eligibility verification details to Housing and Community Development Department staff during application review. Once an application is approved for assistance, Housing and Community Development Department staff will coordinate with the Finance and Administrative Services Department and Tax Department to issue a credit towards the taxpayer's property tax bill. The program has a proposed launch date of October 8, 2021. All applications must be received by 5:OOpm on December 15, 2021 to allow time for processing. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The program would expend $250,000 in ARPA funding that has been allocated to assist long-term, low-income households affected by the tax revaluation of their property. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goals are applicable to this item: • GOAL: FOSTER A COMMUNITY CULTURE THAT REJECTS OPPRESSION AND INEQUITY The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race or color; religious or philosophical beliefs; sex, gender or sexual orientation; national origin or ethnic background; age; military service; disability; and familial, residential or economic status. • GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their dependents. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There are no Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal impacts applicable to this item. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the proposed Longtime Homeowner Assistance program design. Attachment 1 ORANGE COUNTY n4l►CW r *wo NORTH CAROLINA ORANGE COUNTY HOUSING&COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT LONG TIME HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM "PLEASE ENSURE ENTIRE APPLICATION IS COMPLETE BEFORE SUBMITTING" HOMEOWNER NAME APPLICATION DATE° HOMEOWNER PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL: HOMEOWNER BIRTHDATE: ` NUMBER OF ADULTS IN HOUSEHOLD: NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN HOUSEHOLD: ek, ADDRESS OF PROPERTY: HAVE YOU OWNED THE PROPERTY AND HAS IT BE UR PRIMARY RESIDENCE FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS? ❑ Yes ❑ No DID YOUR PROPERTY TAXES INCREASE THIS YEAR (2021)? ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ Unsure Household Size 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 80%AM[ $48,400 $55,300 $62,200 $69,100 $74,650 $80,200 $85,700 $91,250 Source:2021 HUD Income Limits GROSS ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME Assistance is available to Orange County households earning no more than 80%of the area median income(AMI). GENDER OF HOMEOWNER: ❑ Male ❑ Female ❑ Nonbinary RACE OF HOMEOWNER: DATA WILL BE USED FOR ONGOING RACIAL EQUITY ANALYSES TO IMPROVE PROGRAM DELIVERY ❑ White ❑ Black/African American ❑ Asian ❑ American Indian/Alaskan Native ❑ Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander ❑ Other/Multi-racial ETHNICITY OF HOMEOWNER: Hispanic or Latinx? ❑ Yes ❑ No HOW WERE YOU REFERRED TO THIS PROGRAM? ❑ Housing Helpline ❑ Agencyreferral REFERRING AGENCY (IF APPLICABLE): Mailing Address Wain Office Satellite Office P0.Box 8181 300 W.Tryon Street 2501 Homestead Road i Hillsborough,NC 27278 Hillsborough,NC 27278 Chapel Hill,NC 27516 oPaoq. k,.. Telephone(919)245-2490• Fax(919)644-3056 •TDD(919)644-3045 HOMEOWNER CONSENT Does the homeowner give consent for their personal information, including information on this form and in any attachments,to be shared with the Orange County Department of Housing and Community Development (OCHCD),the Orange County Tax Department,the Orange County Finance Department and with other parties,as needed in order for OCHCD to provide assistance to the homeowner? ❑ Yes ❑ No HOMEOWNER CERTIFICATION Does the homeowner certify that all information included in this application and any attachments is correct and complete? ❑ Yes ❑ No REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS: ❑ Documentation verifying gross income for all household members over age 18 ❑ Income certification form(see next page for form) AND,IF POSSIBLE,ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: ❑ Copy of last two(2)bi-weekly or four(4)weekly paycheck stubs OR ❑ W-2 or other wage statement OR ❑ Current benefit award letters or other documents that includes name and amount of the benefit OR ❑ Tax form 1040 from latest tax year OR ❑ Bank statements showing income OR ❑ Employer letter attesting to income ❑ Copy of property tax bill NOTES: Revised 9/7/21 2 Income Certification Form You may use this form to self-certify your household's gross monthly income. Please complete the table and certify that the information you provide is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge with your signature below. The person reviewing your application will use this information to calculate your household's annual income and determine your eligibility for the program. Monthly Income Information Please list all income for the last full month for each household member. Household Household Household Member 1 Member 2 Member 3 (Homeowner) Full Name Wages, salaries,tips, commissions, etc. Unemployment Income Self-employment income Retirement/fixed income Other income Total income per month $ $ $ Household Household Household Member 4 Member 5 Member 6 Full Name Wages, salaries,tips, commissions, etc. Unemployment Income Self-employment income Retirement/fixed income Other income Total income per month $ $ $ 1 certify that to the best of my knowledge the monthly household income reported for each member of my household above is correct, complete and accurate as of the date this form is signed and completed. I agree to provide, upon request, documentation on all income sources to the Orange County Department of Housing and Community Development. Homeowner's Signature Date 3 Return completed application and required documents to Orange County Housing and Community Development Department (OCHCD) via the following options: Email: housinghelp@orangecountync.gov Fax: 919-644-3056 Mail to: PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278 Contactless drop-off available at our two office locations OCHCD Hillsborough Office: 300 W Tryon Street, Hillsborough, NC 27278 (Drop box located outside elevator entrance on the right side of the building OR directly outside the OCHCD office on the 3rd floor) OCHCD Chapel Hill Office: 2501 Homestead Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27516 (Drop box is located outside of the main entrance and is labeled Housing and Community Development) 4 Attachment 2 DRAFT Orange County,NC Longtime Homeowner Assistance Program NOTES <80%Area Median Income Eligibility Requirements Minimum age of 50 Modeled from Jackson Center Program Preliminary research indicates Orange County would pay an average of$150 for property owners currently under tax assistance Incremental Increase from Tax Year 2020 to 2021 No award cap program;other Counties have programs caps of$350&$750 Approved FY 2021-22 ARPA Tax Relief Funding,$250,000 Grants will be awared on a First Come,First Served Basis Policies and Procedures Departments of Purview Timeframe Public Outreach and Program Education Various channels include Public Information Press Releases,Tax,Housing,Human Rights and Community Partners. TBD Application Distribution Tax,Housing,Human Rights and Community Partners(Community Centers)and Workshops,also via Websites Housing and Community Development Intake Applicants and verify FY 2022-October 8 through Income Requirements based on income verification documents Housing December 15,2021 Property must be Real Property,and Property Owners Primary Residence for minimum of Ten Years Housing Create online and paper program applications Housing/Information Technology Schedule to be established based on number of File of Eligible Applicants for ARPA Grants forwarded to the Tax applicants;possibly every Administration Office for Verification Housing two weeks Confirm Applicant's ownership for Ten Years,Verify Incremental Increase in County Tax from 2020 to 2021.Review Applicant's information for Possible Outreach for Other Tax Assistance Programs for Future Tax Years Tax Administration Tax Administration sends Verification Information to Housing Tax Administration Housing prepares Grant Award Documentation,forward to Tax& Finance with all supporting documentation(income eligibility,proof of Final File Prior to December primary residence and approved application) Housing 31,2021 Upon receipt of Grant Award Documentation,Tax Office apply Grant Funds to Final File On or Prior to January Current Year Tax Bill Tax Administration&Finance 5,2022 If 2021 Tax Bill is paid,apply to Delinquent Taxes for the same property.If no delinquencies,Refund Applicant/Property Owner Tax Administration&Finance Provide Batch Report and Grant Award Document outlining disposition of funds to Finance and Housing Tax Administration GL Entry to Internally Transfer Funds Finance Post Program;Process Review and Lessons Learned County Manager,Tax,Housing,and Finance Issue Executive Summary Program Report County Manager,Tax,Housing,and Finance Attachment 3 8 n4aioC H Longtime Homeowner Assistance Program ORANGE COUNTY HOUSING&COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DRAFT COMMUNICATION PLAN Materials Description Who Start Complete Create program flyer OCHCD, Melissa Blackburn 10/6/21 10/7/21 Program info on OCHCD website OCHCD 10/6/21 10/7/21 Create press release OCHCD,Todd McGee 10/6/21 10/7/21 Create FAQ Whole team 10/6/21 10/7/21 Community Outreach 1�.• •a4 a.. Description Who Start Complete Send flyer and program info by Orange County Partnership 10/7/21 email to End Homelessness email hi list, ask service providers to distribute widely Program info in Weekly OC email Todd McGee 10/8/21 Program info in News of Orange ad Todd McGee 12/1/21 Brief nonprofit partners about OCHCD Ongoing program through 12/1/21 Highlight program info at meetings Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness, Local h Reentry Council, OC Changemakers, Orange County Affordable Housing Coalition, Affordable Housing Advisory Board Program info in Health Dept and FSA Kristin Prelipp 11/15/21 newsletters Twitter campaign OCHCD, OCPEH, Orange 10/7/21 12/15/21 County Program info and updates in Town OCHCD 10/7/21 11/15/21 of Chapel Hill Housing and Community Newsletter&Town- wide newsletters for CH, Carrboro and Hillsborough Mailing Address Main Office Satellite Office Ro.Box 8181 300 W.Tryon Street 2501 Homestead Road Hillsborough,NC 27278 Hillsborough,NC 27278 Chapel Hill,INC 27516 Telephone(919)245-2490• Fax(919)6443056•TDD(919)644-3045 9 Media Description Who Start Complete Send press release Todd McGee 10/7/21 Ask BOCC Chair to include program Renee Price 11/15/21 info in weekly Chapelboro spot Respond to media requests as Corey Root, Nancy 12/31/21 needed Freeman 2