Housing Assistance Loan Program

The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments (COG) has been awarded $200,000 by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA) under the 2021 cycle of the Urgent Repair Program to assist residents in the counties of Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren. The Urgent Repair program finances emergency home repairs for homeowners who are elderly or have special needs and whose incomes are below 50% of the median for the area.   Only repairs that address imminent threats to the life and/or safety of occupants of the dwelling unit or accessibility modifications will be performed under the program.   A total of 20 households are projected to be assisted.

In the Urgent Repair Program, one or two critical problems may be repaired, but the entire house is not addressed. Examples of work typically done under this program include roof or HVAC system repair, well or septic system repairs, adding accessibility features like ramps, bathroom grab bars and wider doors.

The COG will provide assistance, to those whose homes are selected for repairs, in the form of a loan. Homeowners will receive an unsecured deferred, interest-free loan, forgiven at a rate of $2,000 per year until the principal balance is reduced to zero.   The maximum amount of the loan available is $10,000.

Applications are available starting September 1, 2021 and must be returned to the COG office by 5:00 pm on November 5, 2021.  Clients to be assisted will be selected by January 1, 2022.

The application and program information are available on the Kerr-Tar Regional COG website at www.kerrtarcog.org or by calling 252-436-2040.

For information regarding Urgent Repair Policies and applications, see the links below.

The funds provided by the NCHFA for the Urgent Repair Program come from the North Carolina Housing Trust Fund.

2021 URP Flyer

2021 URP Policies

2021 URP Application

2021 URP Fillable Application

2021 NADO Photography Contest

The 2021 NADO Photo Contest is open now through September 10.  This contest is an opportunity for our member organizations to tell the story of their regions through images that capture the people and places that make their communities great places to live, work, and play.  Photos submitted will be judged in five categories:

  • Building Vibrant Places
  • Strengthening the Built & Natural Environments
  • Investing in Our Regional Economy
  • Sustaining Our Communities
  • COVID-19 Response & Recovery

Prizes will be given to winning photos in these categories, as well as to a “People’s Choice” winner that will be selected by votes through the NADO Facebook page.

Looking for inspiration?  Click HERE to see last year’s winners and runners-up.  Please direct any questions to NADO Research Foundation Associate Director Brett Schwartz at bschwartz@nado.org.

For more information on this year’s contest and entry form, click HERE.

RAAC Meeting

The next Regional Aging Advisory Committee (RAAC) Meeting will be held Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at 2:00 pm at the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments Office, located at 1724 Graham Avenue in Henderson.  This meeting is open to the public, and will also be held via Zoom.  Please contact Mary Lynn Baldwin, Aging Specialist, for agenda and meeting materials at mbaldwin@kerrtarcog.org or 252-436-2040 ext. 2036.

Please also mark the November 10th meeting on your calendar, also at 2:00 pm.