NEWS

The Town of Davidson is excited to announce its partnership with Ada Jenkins Center to administer the Town’s Rental Subsidy program under the umbrella of the Comprehensive Housing Affordability Program (CHAP). CHAP, which also includes a Critical Home Repair component, is funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars awarded to the Town by Mecklenburg County  

PURPOSE
The purpose of the Rental Subsidy Program is to make existing rental units within the Town of Davidson affordable by ensuring occupants who make 80% or less of the current Mecklenburg County area median income (AMI) are paying no more than 30% of their income toward rent and utilities. Applications will be reviewed on a first come basis for as long as funding is available.   The maximum rental relief amount is $500 per rental unit per month. Applicants and rental units must meet the following program provisions.

PROVISIONS
Applicants must meet the following property and household requirements to be eligible for the Rental Subsidy Program.   Recipients of assistance will be selected using the criteria listed below without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, or disability. Applications will be reviewed on a first come basis for as long as funding is available.  

• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
• The rental unit must be located within the Town limits.
• The rental unit may not be governed by affordable housing deed restrictions or covenants.  
• Applicants receiving on-going rental subsidies or assistance from other sources are not eligible.
• The program is limited to tenants who are at or below the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) low-income limit, defined as at or below 80% of AMI (priority will be given to those at 50% or below AMI).
• Applicants must be paying more than 30% of their income toward rent and utilities.
• Applicants must provide proof of income for all household residents over 18, and the household income must earn at or below 80% of the Area Median Income as defined by the most current Income Limits for the Charlotte/Gastonia/Rock Hill region issued by HUD. Documentation includes paystubs, benefit letters, pensions, and other documents.
• Applicants must have a current lease in place for duration of requested subsidy and provide the lease to the program administrator as part of the application packet.
• Only one person per household can apply for the program.
• Applicants must be able to show proof of residency in their current unit in Davidson, NC, since January 2022.
• Applicants must be current (not in arrears) in rent payment.
• This is a 12-month rental assistance program and only valid for the unit where the applicant is currently residing.        The rental assistance subsidy does not move with the tenant.
• If at any time during the period of rental relief assistance, the applicant is in breach of their rental lease with the property owner, the renter forfeits future assistance payments. 
• The property provider must be willing to accept the subsidy and must submit a signed release waiver to the Town’s partner (Ada Jenkins Center) to verify rental information.
• The property provider must be willing to receive a rental assistance payment from the Town or Town’s partner and provide a current W9. No checks will be written to an individual renter. 
• The rental property must be safe, have no code violations, and conform to fair housing laws.
• Applicants must commit to annual recertification.

For more information about the Rental Subsidy Program or the application process, contact Elizabeth Roman at the Ada Jenkins Center at 704-659-1051 or email her at [email protected]. 

For FAQs, visit: www.townofdavidson.org/CHAP or contact Eugene Bradley, Town of Davidson Housing and Equity Director at 704-940-9653 or [email protected]. 

In January 2023, the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners approved funding for 75 local projects utilizing $99 million allocated from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. The allocated funds will address the County Commissioners’ budget priorities: Affordable Housing and Homelessness, Behavioral Health and Health Equity, Childcare and Early Childhood Development, Parks, Environmental and Infrastructure, Workforce and Economic Development. ARPA was signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021, allowing local governments to provide direct assistance to communities that have been most impacted by COVID-19. For a full list of ARPA recipients, visit www.MeckNC.gov.