Agenda - 06-07-2022; 6-a - Longtime Homeowner Assistance (LHA) Additional Information

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2 Community Outreach Please find the community outreach plan for the 2021 Longtime Homeowner Assistance program included as Attachment 1. Staff created the materials enumerated in this plan (flyer, FAQ) and performed extensive outreach in communities and via the local media. In addition to this completing all activities in this communication plan, Housing staff also organized and staffed three in-person events to help people complete LHA applications and distributed information about these events in English and Spanish-language flyers (Attachment 2). The Housing Department also mailed LHA flyers to every resident of Fairview and Piney Grove communities, and printed copies for every resident of Northside to receive LHA flyers along with the monthly neighborhood newsletter. Expanded community outreach is a key issue for the 2022 LHA program. Staff will include a LHA program insert in the Orange County Tax Assistance Application Packet and included in the real property tax bills mailed in July 2022. Staff will continue to work with community organizations and networks to get the information out about the 2022 LHA program. Staff will continue to have materials available in languages other than English, and to have information available via a variety of channels including the media, community partners, and County programs including offices and the Housing Helpline. Staff will work with program participants and the groups that work with them to understand and craft and implement a plan for expanded outreach. Durham County Property Tax Relief Program In 2021, Durham implemented a property tax relief program similar to LHA — there were 340 total number of applicants and 204 approvals. Durham expects the number of applicants will increase 100% for the 2022 year based on lowering the number of years the applicant must have owned and lived in the property from 10 years to 5 years. Durham will be changing its program design to reflect a tiered award amount based on income. This year the award amount will be 50% of the tax amount of the last tax bill available not to exceed: • $1,000 for 61-80% AMI • $1,250 for 31-60% AMI • $1,500 for 30% AMI and below Durham County implemented a communication plan for its program that targeted faith-based organizations, used presentations at local agencies, traditional media and social media, along with a program insert in tax bills. Durham County plans to change the insert this year to inform homeowners that the County can reimburse funds if homeowners have already paid their tax bill when the award is approved. There is not a plan for prioritizing the awards, and it will be provided on a first come first served system. In addition, staff plans to communicate with the Durham County Board of Commissioners if additional funding is needed to cover all applications received. Prioritizing Awards At the May 24' meeting, the Board of Commissioners asked staff to present options for prioritizing LHA applications based on need, should prioritization be needed because application awards exceed available funding. First-come, first-served prioritizations favor people with lower service needs, and therefore are not recommended. Staff recommends using the following factors (in combination or alone) to determine need: • Tax burden — percentage of total tax bill divided by household income; higher percentages to be prioritized over lower percentages o Staff recommend using tax burden as the highest prioritization factor • Age — older homeowners prioritized over younger homeowners o Staff recommend using age as the second highest prioritization factor