The Columbus County Public Housing Agency (CCPHA) has moved to a new location and with the big move comes a new event for the landlords in the county. For the first time ever, the agency will be hosting a landlord fair.
The purpose of the event is to give existing landlords and potential landlords the information they need regarding the decision to join the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HVC). The CCPHA participates in the HCV (Section 8) and currently manages 200 housing contracts for that program. It provides assistance to very low-income families to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing. Housing can include single-family homes, townhouses and apartments.
The program is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects.
A family that is issued a housing voucher is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of their choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program. A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the CCPHA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program.
According to an email from the CCPHA, the biggest downfall for current voucher holders is finding properties that are up to code and affordable. The agency hopes that the fair will yield more properties for these families.
The Columbus County Public Housing Agency has also begun providing landlord incentives for homeowners willing to participate in the program.
“We are going to be offering a $500 sign-on bonus to our new landlords,” said Columbus County Public Housing Agency Director Rebecca Tyson.
The agency will be offering this one-time financial incentive to property owners who will either be joining the program by renting to a new voucher family or who are already participating and decide to add units.
If property owners signed a lease with an HCV family on Oct. 1 of this year and are currently upholding that agreement, they are already eligible for the incentive. Incentives can be issued for leases signed through Dec. 31, 2022.
The landlord fair will be held on Dec. 16 from 4-6 p.m. at the new CCPHA office. The building is located at 612 North Madison Street in Whiteville. For more information about the event, call 910.640.6618.
