Senior Rent Relief Program
Description
The SRR Program, facilitated by the Cornelius CDC and funded by the Town of Cornelius, is in response to the unprecedented rent increases in 2023 which have resulted in housing insecurity for seniors on fixed income living in Cornelius, NC. It is a limited fund,12 month rental assistance program, with no renewal. Applications are reviewed on a first come basis for as long as funding is available. The rental relief for qualified participants will be 50% of the 2023 rental increase up to a maximum of $200 for rental unit.
Program Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following program qualifications:
a) Applicants must be households of persons 55+ on fixed income. If single only one renter may apply per unit.
b) Applicants must be able to show proof of residency in their current unit in Cornelius, NC since January, 2022.
c) Applicants must be able to show proof of a rent increase of 15% or more in 2023.
d) Applicants must show proof of total earnings of 70% AMI or below.
e) Applicants must not be in arrears in their current rent payment.
f) Applicants must understand this is a 12-month rental assistance program and only valid for the unit where they are currently residing. The rent assistance does not move with the tenant.
g) Applicant understands if at any time during the rental relief assistance, they are in breach of their rental lease with the property owner, the renter forfeits future assistance payments.
h) Applicant must provide a signed release waiver from the Property Owner allowing the Lake Norman CDC to verify rental information.
i) The Property Owner must be willing to receive a rental assistance payment from the Lake Norman CDC and provide the Lake Norman CDC a current W9. No checks will be written to an individual renter.
j) The rental property must be safe, have no code violations and conform to fair housing laws.
k) Applicants agree to work with a suggested case manager or individually commit to have their names placed on affordable rental property lists, knowing that if they need to move at the end of the SRR assistance, waitlists can be 12-18 months in length.
Application Information
a) Completed “Application Packets” will be dated and entered into program on first come first qualified basis. An applicant does not enter the program review until a completed packet of information is received. If a partial application packet is received, the Lake Norman CDC will work to assist the applicant to complete the application packet for 10 days. If the applicant does not provide the necessary information within the 10 day period, the application will be placed on hold.
b) If an applicant meets all the program guidelines, but the property owner does not complete the necessary W9 for check payments or sign the waiver for rental information, the applicant will be unable to receive the rental assistance.
Application Documents
Application
Bilingual
