Brief Information About Housing Authority in Chapel Hill
The Orange County Housing Authority is situated at 140 West Barbee Chapel Road Chapel Hill North Carolina 27517. The phone number is 919-929-2404. Their housing code is NC104.
The HA is responsible for managing the housing program for citizens in need. This includes the application step, the guidelines for eligibility, and any other resources. The HA’s mission is to provide subsidized rents for low-income families, provide access to various assistance programs for housing problems. You can reach out to the Orange County Housing Authority for issues regarding the qualification process, the location of the proprieties that are under the office’s management, or any information regarding Chapel Hill Section 8 landlord’s details.
Existing Programs in Chapel Hill HA
The Orange County Housing Authority provides excellent opportunities for people that are having problems with their housing situation. The table below shows data on HUD housing programs in Chapel Hill.
HUD Housing Programs in Chapel Hill
| Orange County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Subsidized Units | 1,206 | 123,396 |
| Occupied % | 86.0% | 92.0% |
| People Per Unit | 2.1 | 2.2 |
| People Total | 2,244 | 249,340 |
| Average Family Expenditure Per Month | $330 | $282 |
| Average HUD Expenditure Per Month | $603 | $540 |
| Average Months on Wait List | 40 | 21 |
Public Housing Programs in Chapel Hill
The public housing program by Chapel Hill HA is built in such a way that the voucher covers up to 70% of the rent costs. To qualify for this program, the people need to have income that does not exceed the 50% of the median income. Below is the latest data for Public Housing Programs in Chapel Hill.
| Orange County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Subsidized Units | 336 | 26,204 |
| Occupied % | 86.0% | 93.0% |
| People Per Unit | 2.8 | 2.3 |
| People Total | 806 | 55,999 |
| Average Family Expenditure Per Month | $413 | $256 |
| Average HUD Expenditure Per Month | $573 | $575 |
| Average Months on Wait List | 16 | 15 |
Section 8 Housing Programs in Chapel Hill
The Section 8 vouchers provided by the Chapel Hill HA tend to cover most of the expenses and are of great assistance to families that are struggling. Below is the latest data for Section 8 in Chapel Hill.
| Orange County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Subsidized Units | 167 | 26,769 |
| Occupied % | 95.0% | 95.0% |
| People Per Unit | 2.3 | 1.9 |
| People Total | 349 | 46,928 |
| Average Family Expenditure Per Month | $252 | $246 |
| Average HUD Expenditure Per Month | $605 | $545 |
| Check if you qualify for HUD Public Housing Program: | Check if you qualify for Section 8 Housing Programs: |
| Public Housing Program | Section 8 Program |
2022 Income Limits
According to the latest statistical data as of 2022, the median income is $40,000. You can find up-to-date data on income limits for Chapel Hill and other cities by clicking on the link:
Waiting List Statuses in Chapel Hill
| Orange County Housing Authority Section 8 Voucher Wait List
The Section 8 Voucher Programs waitlist is Closed. For current program waitlist status, contact Chapel Hill HA directly. Up-to-date contact information for Orange County Housing Authority is listed in the “Listing Info”. |
Closed |
| Orange County Housing Authority Public Housing Wait List
The Public Housing Programs waitlist is Open. For current program waitlist status, contact Chapel Hill HA directly. Up-to-date contact information for Orange County Housing Authority is listed in the “Listing Info”. |
Open |
How Do I Apply in Orange County Housing Authority?
To apply for the Public Housing Program or the Section 8 voucher, you would need to reach out to the Orange County Housing Authority first. From them, you will get the application form. You also prepare the necessary for all the family members: ID, employment, bank account info, bank account status. You can e-mail or drop in the application at the Orange County Housing Authority office. They will contact you with any questions.
More information can be found on the official HUD website:
Additional Information
Official websites of housing authorities in North Carolina
FAQ
What does the housing authority do?
A housing authority (HA) is made up of various agencies that offer housing assistance funded by HUD. Housing authorities are targeted for old age, low-income people, people who suffer from disabilities, or people that are escaping domestic abuse. Each HA covers different jurisdictions, as there are housing authorities for each local area. There are more than 3300 housing authorities in the USA. The housing authority has information regarding possible programs that you can apply, and about what types of help can you qualify to get. The most common type of help that people get from the public housing authorities includes vouchers, which cover specific percentages of their rent costs and their utilities.
What is the difference of Section 8 and public housing?
The idea of the HA is to provide housing assistance. There are differences among all the programs that we have mentioned so far in this material. Section 8 allows you to choose a preferred location. The landlord must also agree to accept the Section 8 housing vouchers.
Section 8 has 2 subdivisions: there is a tenant option and a project option. The tenant voucher follows the tenant. This means that the tenant can change housing and transfer the voucher with him if the new landlord accepts these vouchers as payment. The project housing is tied to a specific location and the tenant must reside in that location to get the rental assistance. In the public housing program, the proprieties are owned by the rental assistance agency.
There is also public housing, which is managed by the government. The idea is that there are housing options that are subsidized by the government. This program welcomes low-income families. The rent that the tenants pay depends on their annual income. So the difference between section 8 vs public housing is that section 8 lets you choose your residence and you get a subsidy on your rent and public housing allows you to live in a place that is owned by the government.
How to get into housing authority fast?
The most popular program for public housing assistance is Section 8. There are many steps to apply for this type of assistance, but first and foremost you need to make sure that your landlord accepts payments in the form of vouchers provided by the housing authority. To apply for Section 8, you need proof that you have a low income, which comes in the form of job checks or tax returns, you need a state ID, you need to show your USA citizenship, you need to have a clean record, which means no felonies or drug use. The last part of the application is the special situations, which can either significantly put you at the bottom of the waiting list or can push you to the top. The idea is simple: the more drastic your situation, the earlier you will get the help.
This means that being homeless, having a disability, having an income that is on the 50% or below the local average income, living in a shelter, being a veteran, being part of the elderly, and exiting domestic abuse, will push you on top, as these are categories that need immediate assistance. You can also bypass the waiting list by reaching out directly to the housing authorities. You can also use the help of a social worker, who can assist you in navigating the application faster and can direct you to a new opportunity.
How long can you stay in public housing?
When getting a place to live with the housing authority, it is good news as your emergency is now solved. Well, there are always the questions of what happens next and how long can you stay in that place? The short answer is if you keep qualifying for the same requirements that you got the place in the first time. That means that if your income stays below 80% of the local median income, you are good. There is always the requirement of good behavior.
You also must take care of your part of the rent. The housing authority provides help, but the idea is that you still cover a small part of the rent and expenses. You also need to make your payments on time.
How long is the waiting list for public housing?
The most common HA program is Section 8. There is a long waiting list for this program. With the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of people that have applied for the vouchers of Section 8 has skyrocketed, hence there are a lot of application delays. As of right now, the housing authority waiting list is 1 year and a half. The public housing authority programs favors specific groups of people or families that fit certain profiles. Priority is given to veterans, to the elderly, to the people that are exiting domestic violence.
