Chatham County presents housing programs: emergency rent aid, tax relief, street outreach and partnerships

Chatham County staff updated the Board of Commissioners on local housing programs, describing direct rental assistance, a new tax-relief payment, partner-run emergency services and expanded outreach aimed at preventing homelessness.

Jason Smith, the county presenter, said the Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP) is a county-run program in its fourth year that makes direct payments to landlords for residents facing eviction. The program has a $2,000-per-household cap and does not provide ongoing monthly support; last fiscal year EHAP assisted 98 families with roughly $146,000 in payments (about $1,500 per household). Smith said applicants must present a stability plan demonstrating a path to sustain housing after assistance.

Smith described a new Tax Relief Program funded at $200,000 that provides a $500 direct payment to qualifying low-income residents; staff said 95 households had received the payment since the program began in spring 2025. The county’s Emergency Housing Fund, allocated at $100,000 and increased to $125,000 for the coming year to cover rising energy costs, is distributed to nonprofit partners for direct client services (rent, utilities, transportation, food and “white flag” cold-weather sheltering). Love Chatham and the Salvation Army were identified as primary partners for that fund.

Rebecca Summer Peterson, director of the Salvation Army service unit in Chatham County, described the Salvation Army’s emergency financial assistance (one-time assistance available every 24 months) and a longer-term Pathway to Success case-management program that can provide up to two years of support for people in chronic housing crisis. She said the Salvation Army complements EHAP by addressing needs outside EHAP’s scope, including mortgage assistance and deeper casework.

Staff described a full-time street-outreach coordinator (contracted through CPRC) who performs field outreach, locates people living in cars or tents, and connects them to services; the position was made full time about a year ago. Transitional housing capacity was discussed: Love Chatham and True Homes are opening a new transitional living house in Pittsboro located on Camp Drive near the Cora/DSS campus to allow direct connections to services. The county described a weekly Housing Collective of service partners (Salvation Army, Love Chatham, United Way, CPRC and others) that holds client consults and coordinates services to reduce duplication.

Commissioners asked about hotel-stay costs and policy. Staff said short-term hotel stays remain a bridge strategy for people with a defined “end game”; staff gave a range: the least expensive hotels used in Siler City run about $550 per week, with more expensive local options up to roughly $1,200 per week. Staff said hotel stays are generally not a long-term solution and are used sparingly because of cost and the lack of a permanent housing outcome.

Staff and partners said they will return to the board next month with a data dashboard showing program metrics and progress on a strategic housing plan; staff invited commissioners to refer constituent inquiries to the housing office and nonprofit partners for assistance.