TITLE
title
JOINT COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR GREENSBORO/GUILFORD COUNTY HOME CONSORTIUM
end
SPONSOR
sponsor
J. Leslie Bell, Director, Planning and Development
end
BACKGROUND
background
The City of Greensboro, as Lead Entity of the Greensboro/Guilford County Housing Consortium, seeks to renew the existing Joint Cooperative Agreement between the City of Greensboro and Guilford County (resolution attached). The last amended agreement was approved by the Board of Commissioners on Sep. 28, 2022. The Greensboro/Guilford HOME Consortium, with BCC approval, would be renewing for the three-year consortium qualification period 2025-2027 beginning July 1, 2025 ending June 30, 2028. The City of Greensboro set the resolution and agreement for the June 3, 2025 City Council meeting with the City indicating that it will route the resolution and agreement (draft agreement attached) upon approval by the City Council. The signed agreement will need to be sent to HUD by June 30, 2025.
Approval of this resolution also approves Guilford County's right to participate (renewal letter attached) and authorizes approval of the consortium agreement, in substantial form, for a three year period effective July 1, 2025. As the Housing Consortium Lead Entity, the City of Greensboro is responsible for Consortium compliance with HUD requirements and has the authority to disperse HUD-granted HOME funds among HOME consortium member(s). HOME funds vary from cycle to cycle and can be used to finance a wide variety of affordable housing activities that generally fall into the following six (6) categories:
1) New construction of owner-occupied housing;
2) Rehabilitation of owner-occupied housing;
3) Assistance to home buyers;
4) New construction of rental housing;
5) Rehabilitation of rental housing; and,
6) Tenant-based rental assistance.
While HUD funding varies from funding cycle to funding cycle, from FY16/17 - FY21/22, Guilford County's annual allocated budget has averaged $120,098 per year.
HOME-assisted housing units must benefit households with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income (see 2025 HUD Income Limits for Guilford County attached). Additionally, 90% of occupants of HOME-assisted rental units and households that receive tenant-based rental assistance must have incomes at or below 60% of area median income. In recent years, Guilford County has utilized it's Housing Consortium allotment for scattered site home rehabilitation and since FY2019/20 for a Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Program to assist low-to-moderate-income home-buyers with down payment and closing costs. To date, a total of $20,000 in down payment assistance has been awarded to two qualifying home-buyers consisting of $10,000 in funds dispersed to each during FY20/21.
end
RESOLUTION
Resolution
RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE JOINT COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH GREENSBORO/GUILFORD HOME CONSORTIUM
WHEREAS, under Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development is authorized to make HOME Program grants for the conduct of federal HOME Programs;
WHEREAS, the City of Greensboro and Guilford County have formed a Housing Consortium to receive HOME funding;
WHEREAS, the City of Greensboro serves as Lead Entity of the Greensboro HOME Consortium pursuant to the Joint Cooperative Agreement entered into by said parties on June 24, 2004;
WHEREAS, as the lead HOME Consortium agency, the City of Greensboro has the authority to disperse HUD granted HOME funds among the Consortium members;
WHEREAS, the Greensboro HOME Consortium will renew for the three-year consortium qualification period 2025-2027 beginning July 1, 2025 ending June 30, 2028;
WHEREAS, the Participating Governments mutually desire to continue the terms of the Joint Cooperative Agreement in accordance with HUD guidelines; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS:
That the Chairman, as Chief Elected Official, or their designee, is authorized and consents on behalf of the County of Guilford and her/himself to sign the amended Joint Cooperative Agreement for the Greensboro/Guilford HOME Consortium.
ADOPTED this the 18th day of June, 2025.
end
BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
Funding for this agreement will be provided from Housing Consortium funds awarded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
end
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve resolution and renew, in substantial form, the Joint Cooperative Agreement for the City of Greensboro/Guilford County Home Consortium for the administration and disbursement of HUD granted HOME funds; authorize staff to take any and all necessary actions to finalize the agreements by the submission deadline.
end