Pittsboro, NC – Beginning August 31, 2020, the Chatham County Housing Trust Fund (HTF) will accept applications for its third year to award $285,000 to deserving organizations or government agencies to address affordable housing needs in the community.
Applications are due by 1 p.m. on Friday, October 16, 2020. Applications are reviewed by the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, which makes a recommendation to the Chatham County Board of Commissioners for final approvals that are released by January 2021.
The HTF was created in 2018 by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners. The fund is intended to provide low interest loans to encourage development projects that create or preserve affordable housing in Chatham County, as well as grants to assist with project development, fee reimbursement, studies, or other housing-related efforts.
“The trust fund is such a necessary resource for affordable housing development in Chatham County – it has helped attract and grow relationships with community-minded developers, home repair non-profits, and social services.” said Erika Brown, Senior Planner, Triangle J Council of Governments. “We believe that Chatham County’s housing trust fund serves as a great model for other local governments aiming to improve affordable housing in their communities.”
The HTF has five key priorities which aim to direct funds towards goals such as increasing the supply of affordable housing near resources like grocery stores, public transportation, schools, jobs, and healthcare; to promote diversity and vitality of neighborhoods; and to preserve existing affordable housing through renovation, repair and retrofitting.
“Since its inception two years ago, the housing trust fund has helped promote a wide range of affordable housing options, including homes for seniors, supportive housing for folks with special needs, and homes that allow our local workforce to live close to their jobs,” said Susan Levy, Chair, Chatham County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. “As the housing trust fund enters into its third year, we are anticipating a growing number of highly competitive applications from both private and non-profit housing developers.”
To view the application, the guidelines, scoring criteria and additional details about the HTF process visit chathamnc.org/housingtrustfund. For questions or more information, contact Stephanie Watkins-Cruz, Policy Analyst with the Chatham County Manager’s Office at or 919-545-8398.