Kinston accepts urgent repair funding for low-income homeowners

The Kinston City Council approved post-award documents Tuesday for a $137,500 urgent repair program expected to help low-income homeowners with safety-related housing repairs.

The city was conditionally awarded the funding through the 2027 Urgent Repair Program from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency.

Jordan Kearney, community development planner, said the program is expected to assist up to eight low-income homeowners.

“We’ve been conditionally awarded $137,500 for the 2027 urgent repair program from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency,” Kearney told council. “We hope to assist up to eight low-income homeowners with imminent life or safety related housing repairs.”

Kearney said the program focuses on special populations at risk of displacement. According to the agenda packet, the program is intended to help very low-income homeowners with urgent repairs, particularly elderly residents, people with disabilities, veterans and households at risk of being displaced.

Council was asked to approve the program’s post-approval documentation, known as PAD. The documentation includes the assistance policy and disbursement policy required by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency.

“Approval allows the city to finalize the award, execute the funding agreement and begin implementation of this grant program,” Kearney said.

Kearney said the documentation outlines eligibility, priority ranking, procurement standards and the loan structure for participating households.

All work funded through the program must address urgent threats to health or safety and follow competitive bidding through the city’s approved contractor registry. Assistance is structured as a forgivable loan, reduced by $5,000 per year until fully forgiven.

The city will hold two public information sessions for residents interested in learning more about eligibility and how to apply. The first session will be held June 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. The second will be held June 27 at 9:30 a.m. at the Georgia K. Battle Community Center.

Councilman Les Lipford asked for the meeting dates to be repeated and said residents have asked how to access repair assistance.

“A lot of people keep asking, how, where’s the money? How do you do this?” Lipford said. “That’s good information.”

Kearney said residents with questions about loan or application status for any programs can contact him.

Mayor Pro Tem Felicia Solomon thanked staff for pursuing the funding.

“It wasn’t recently that you just told us about the possibility of us attaining these additional grants,” Solomon said. “It’s just really good to have you come back suddenly and tell us about us receiving such funding. So thank you for all the work.”

Mayor Kareem Moore also thanked Kearney and said the program addresses a community need.

“These are some badly needed resources in our community,” Moore said.

The council approved the program documents without opposition.