The Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Eviction Program (HOPE) provides financial assistance to low income renters who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program promotes housing stability by preventing evictions and utilities disconnections during the ongoing pandemic.

How to Qualify

Who is eligible?
Tenants must meet all the following requirements:
1. You must rent your primary residence.
2. You must have owed past due rent sometime on or after April 1, 2020 or been at risk of homelessness. You do not have to owe past due rent currently to apply.
3. You must have experienced a reduction in income, become unemployed, incurred significant cost, or suffered some other financial hardship due to the COVID pandemic.
4. Your household income does not exceed 80% of the area median. Click here for the median income in your county.
5. You live in one of the 88 counties served by the HOPE program. Click here for a list of the 88 counties.

HOPE Assistance Benefits
Rental Assistance
The HOPE program provides assistance for past due rent owed to a landlord and is capped at 130% of your county’s fair market rent value for a two bedroom unit. Click here to find the fair market value in your county.

Renters can receive a maximum of 12 months assistance, nine months for past due rent. Renters can also receive three months of future rent at a time with a maximum of 12 months. To receive future rent, applicants must re-apply and re-qualify every three months.

Funds are paid directly to the landlord on the renter’s behalf. By accepting the program funds, landlords agree not to evict renter during the time the landlord is being paid by the program or for 60 days after the payments end.

Utility Assistance
Funds for utility assistance are paid directly to the utility provider on behalf of the renter. The program will pay for a maximum of three months of past due utilities. Assistance funds are capped at the amounts listed below. A bill showing the amount due must be submitted at the time of the application.

Electricity: $1,000
Gas, propane, heating oil: $270
Water: $210
Wastewater: $240

How do I apply?
Click here to begin the application process.

If you live in one of the following counties: Buncombe, Cabarrus, Cumberland, Durham, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Johnston, Mecklenburg, New Hanover, Union, and Wake, you will have to apply for that county’s program. You can find contact information here, or call 211.

If you are a member of one of the following tribes: Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, Coharie Tribe, Haliwa-Saponi Tribe, Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and Waccamaw-Siouan Tribe, you will be served by your government’s rent and utility assistance program.

Tenants will need the following documents to apply:
1. Household income from all members of household
2. Lease or rental agreement
3. Completed lease summary form
4. Statement from landlord verifying past due amounts
5. Proof of rent payment
6. Landlord's contact information
7. Latest utility bill

FAQ

I live in subsidized housing. Can I get assistance?
Yes. You can receive a maximum of 12 months of assistance for past due rent. According to federal guidelines, renters in subsidized housing are not eligible for future rent assistance.

Do I have to keep paying rent if I’m receiving assistance?
Yes. Applicants are responsible for all rent owed. The program only pays for past due rent, not total rent.

I need help applying for the program. Is that allowed?
Yes. You can get help from someone you trust to help you with the application. You will need to include a Communication Designee Form, allowing that person to share sensitive information, with your application.

If you want someone to act on your behalf, you should sign a Power of Attorney Form naming the person you have authorized.