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Craven County accepts additional $162,000 from NCHFA to expand single‑family rehab program
Summary
Craven County commissioners accepted $162,000 in additional HOME funding from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency to increase the county's single‑family rehabilitation program from three to six homes and approved a budget amendment to spend the funds.
Chad Strong, Craven County planning director, and consultants from Insight Consulting Group updated commissioners on the county’s single‑family rehabilitation program and asked the board on Sept. 15 to accept an additional $162,000 in North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA) HOME funds.
"We recently had a bid opening where we had five contractors bid on houses that were previously selected by the planning department for rehabilitation," consultant Chris Hilbert said. He explained the county originally received funding for three homes in October 2023 and that the state agreed to award an additional $162,000 to bring the funded total to six homes.
Hilbert and Kate Firstinger of Insight Consulting Group outlined how applicants are identified and evaluated: the county planning department maintains a request‑for‑assistance list, staff verify ownership and income, and some applicants who are too severely damaged for rehabilitation are being evaluated for Community Development Block Grant reconstruction funds instead.
The presentation noted the program prioritizes owner‑occupied homes and special populations such as older adults, people with disabilities and veterans. "This is an income‑based program, but we also look at special populations," Hilbert said. He added that HOME funds (NCHFA) are distinct from CDBG funding administered through HUD and that CDBG can fund reconstruction when rehab is not feasible.
Commissioners moved, seconded and voted by roll call to accept the additional $162,000, approve a budget amendment and project ordinance for the amount, and authorize staff to proceed with loan closings and contracting. The roll call recorded unanimous affirmative votes from the board.
Staff said they will depend on NCHFA to deliver loan closing packages to proceed to preconstruction conferences and that some additional homes will be bid in October. The consultants said the county has a longstanding request list and uses tax records, income verification and tax‑payment status checks as part of eligibility screening.
The item was presented as a formal request to accept funds and amend the budget; the board approved the request during the meeting.
