In 2024, Guilford County reported over 600 unhoused people through the annual Point-in-Time count. Now a new program is looking to use leftover federal pandemic money to help low-income families struggling to afford housing before they become part of that growing number.
“We really hope to accomplish income stability with this, making sure that people have access to safe, secure, affordable housing,” said Samuel Hunter, Greensboro’s housing strategy and development director. “We’re really just making sure that we can have different opportunities for all of our constituents.”
The city and Greensboro Housing Authority came together with the nonprofits Family Services of the Piedmont, Continuum of Care, and the Greensboro Housing Coalition to create the HOME American Rescue Plan, a tenant-based rental assistance program. The city council approved the plan in March.
Funding came from the American Rescue Plan Act dollars Greensboro received during the pandemic and from the Nussbaum Housing Partnership. The goal: to cover partial rent for families in the city who make 30% under the area median income, or just over $18,000 a year. The specific amount of rent coverage varies per household.
Referrals will come through the partnering organizations, some of which have waitlists.
“There is an existing need for the existing homes that we have,” Hunter said. “So, we really want to make sure that we can take care of the folks that are in place and make sure that we can also leverage the existing homes that we have in place and get people in those homes so they can have safe, secure housing.”
Today we’re taking a By-The-Numbers look at the program, who qualifies, and the city’s larger vision.
Program figures are sourced from the city’s Housing and Neighborhood Development office.
641
People experiencing homelessness in 2024 in Guilford County, according to the most recently released Point-in-Time count. (The Assembly reached out to Continuum of Care and other partner agencies for the ’25 and ’26 number, but has not heard back.)
15,512
People experiencing homelessness across the state in 2025, according to Continuum of Care.
$61,515
Median household income for Greensboro.
$18,454.50
Thirty percent of the city’s median income— the threshold under which people qualify for the program.
$1.6 million
Total investment in HOME-ARP.
80
Estimated number of families the program will assist.
$19,250
Maximum qualifying income for a household of one.
$27,450
Maximum qualifying income for a household of four.
$36, 250
Maximum qualifying income for a household of eight.
24
Months the program is built to support qualifying families.
