NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS:
- Please review the full notice for the HCV Administrative Plan public hearing here.
- Please review the full notice for the 2021 Annual Plan public hearing here.
- A completed copy of the 2021 annual plan is available here.
Overview
The goal of the Commission’s housing division is to provide safe, decent affordable housing for the residents of Region C. The most recent annual plan can be found here.
Please Click or Download forms below as needed. You may print and return to your local Housing Office or Complete and email to your Housing Counselor.
- [email protected] for Sharanda Brown
- [email protected] for Tomika Merrit
- [email protected] for Jennifer Fox
- [email protected] for Becky McKelvey
- [email protected] for Tammy Phillips.
Updates & Forms
- CLICK HERE for the Housing Assistance Payments Contract
- CLICK HERE to download the Interim Re-Evaluation Request Form.
Tenant Briefing Packet
- Landlord Listing for all Region C Counties
- Briefing Booklet
- Forms
- Income Guideline Chart & Fair Market Rate Rents
- Electronic Income Verification
- Domestic Violence
- Housing Discrimination
- Fair Housing
- A Good Place to Live
- Protect Your Family from Lead Paint
Latest News and Resources
Click here to view the Approved Annual Plan for the Fiscal Year beginning 07/01/2019.
Foothills Regional Commission | Representing Cleveland, McDowell, Polk and Rutherford Counties in North Carolina
Click here to be taken to the Isothermal Housing Task Force page
CDC Issues Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions To Prevent the Further Spread of COVID-19
September 4, 2020 – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), located within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the issuance of an Order under Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act to temporarily halt residential evictions to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. This Order is effective September 4, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
Under this Order, a landlord, owner of a residential property, or other person [3] with a legal right to pursue eviction or possessory action, shall not evict any covered person from any residential property in any jurisdiction to which this Order applies during the effective period of the Order. This Order does not apply in any State, local, territorial, or tribal area with a moratorium on residential evictions that provides the same or greater level of public-health protection than the requirements listed in this Order. Nor does this order apply to American Samoa, which has reported no cases of COVID-19, until such time as cases are reported.
In accordance with 42 U.S.C. 264(e), this Order does not preclude State, local, territorial, and tribal authorities from imposing additional requirements that provide greater public-health protection and are more restrictive than the requirements in this Order.This Order is a temporary eviction moratorium to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. This Order does not relieve any individual of any obligation to pay rent, make a housing payment, or comply with any other obligation that the individual may have under a tenancy, lease, or similar contract. Nothing in this Order precludes the charging or collecting of fees, penalties, or interest as a result of the failure to pay rent or other housing payment on a timely basis, under the terms of any applicable contract.
Under the Order, tenants cannot be evicted for nonpayment of rent, provided the tenant signs the Declaration that is attached to the CDC Order certifying that:
- They have used best efforts to obtain all available government assistance for rent or housing;
- They expect to earn no more than $99,000 in annual income for Calendar Year 2020 (or no more than $198,000 if filing a joint tax return), were not required to report any income in 2019 to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or received an Economic Impact Payment (stimulus check) pursuant to Section 2201 of the CARES Act;
- They are unable to pay their full rent or make a full housing payment due to substantial loss of household income, loss of compensable hours of work or wages, lay-offs, or extraordinary out-of-pocket medical expenses;
- They are using best efforts to make timely partial payments that are as close to the full payment as their circumstances may permit, taking into account other nondiscretionary expenses;
- If evicted they would likely become homeless, need to move into a homeless shelter, or need to move into a new residence shared by other people who live in close quarters because they have no other available housing options.
- They understand they must still pay rent or make a housing payment, and comply with other obligations that they may have under their tenancy, lease agreement, or similar contract. The understand that fees, penalties, or interest for not paying rent or making a housing payment on time as required by their tenancy, lease agreement, or similar contract may still be charged or collected; and
- They understand that at the end of this temporary halt on evictions on December 31, 2020, their housing provider may require payment in full for all payments not made prior to and during the temporary halt and failure to pay may make them subject to eviction.
The Order does not relieve the tenants’ obligation to pay rent and the tenants must continue to comply with terms under the lease. However, tenants qualifying as “Covered Persons” under the Order cannot be evicted for nonpayment of rent in violation of the lease if the CDC eviction protections are invoked (see below). Nothing in the Order precludes the landlords from charging or collecting fees, penalties, or interest as a result of the tenants’ inability to pay rent on a timely basis. Evictions unrelated to nonpayment of rent can still take place, e.g., criminal activity. Any state, local, or territorial area with a moratorium on residential evictions that provides the same or greater level of public-health protection can supersede the Order. Nothing in the Order affects the CARES Act waivers or funding a PHA receives or is utilizing.
- Click here to access the required Declaration, which is available to any tenant who may be subject to eviction for nonpayment of rent. The declaration and signature is on page 6 of the attachment.
- Click here to read the CDC’s notice on the temporary halt.
- What the CDC’s new evictions moratorium means for cities
Landlord Information During COVID-19
Housing Office Announces New Hours of Operation
Effective June 8, 2020 we will begin interactions with Clients in Housing by Appointment only on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Rutherfordton office, located at 111 West Court Street, and the Shelby Office located at 127 W. Graham Street. The Marion Office will be by mail only until further notice. Anyone entering the office will be required to wear a mask. Housing Counselors will be available by phone and email during office hours.
Results from First Annual Isothermal Housing Summit, November 2019
The Foothills Regional Commission held its first Regional Housing Summit on November 7, 2019 at the Rutherfordton Club House. Please click below to see the updated regional data.
To Learn more about the Housing Task Force and Housing Data here in the Isothermal Region, go to our Housing Data Page [See More]
The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
This program provides assistance with rent and utilities for qualifying families by contracting with private landlords. Active clients are afforded opportunity to participate in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, which links the family with supportive services such as childcare, transportation, educational and job training.
To access our application system and to see if we are currently accepting applications for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, click here or visit Isothermal.housingmanager.com.
Contact the Housing Office:
Housing Choice Voucher Program (General Information) – (828)-351-2327
Shelby Housing Office (Cleveland County) – (704)-487-0476
The Shelby Housing Office, serving Cleveland County, is located at 127 W. Graham St Shelby, NC 28150. The Main Housing Office, serving Rutherford, Polk, and McDowell Counties, is located at 111 W Court St Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (the entrance is around back, at the parking lot between Rutherfordton Town Hall and the building – under the green awning).
The Family Self Sufficiency Program
This component of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program is designed to assist families set goals for themselves and with the assistance of our FSS Coordinator reach goals over a five-year time frame become independent from welfare services. It is also possible to gain and Escrow Account to save money while obtaining self-sufficiency.
The Housing Choice Voucher Home-Ownership Program
This is a component of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, and provides vouchers to assist first-time homeowners with their monthly mortgage in lieu of a rental subsidy.
The HUD-VASH Program
A partnership between the Department of Housing & Urban Development and Veteran Affairs to support Homeless veterans in finding and maintaining permanent housing.
The Western N.C. Housing Partnership
A private non-profit organization established to develop affordable housing projects for seniors, families, and special populations in 31 western N.C. counties. For more information, please click here.
