Guilford County is launching a new Low Income Homeowner Assistance Grant program meant to help some county homeowners deal with rising property tax bills and other increasing costs of owning a home.

The application period will open first to residents who are 65 and older on Wednesday, July 15, before expanding to all eligible homeowners on Sunday, Aug. 16.

The Guilford County Board of Commissioners approved the Department of Social Services launching of the grant program on Friday, March 27.

The money will go to qualifying low-income homeowners in Guilford County in the form of a one-time grant payment paid directly to the homeowner.

However, county officials are also making it clear that the program doesn’t change the requirement that homeowners pay their property tax bills in full.

It also doesn’t change the tax collector’s responsibility to collect delinquent taxes.

According to county officials, the grant program is meant to “provide support to low-income homeowners in Guilford County” and help address rising homeownership costs and the impact that those costs are having on low-income residents.

The program will be available to Guilford County homeowners earning up to 80 percent of the area median income. That means the income limit will range from $53,200 for a one-person household to $100,350 for an eight-person household.

To qualify, applicants must own and occupy the home as their primary residence in Guilford County and must have owned the home for at least five consecutive years.

Applicants also must be the person responsible for paying the property taxes on the home.

The home must have been valued at $250,000 or less for the 2025 tax year.

In addition, the homeowner must have no outstanding liens, assessments or delinquent taxes – and must not have already received Guilford County tax assistance on the 2025 tax bill.

The county is giving residents who are 65 and older the first shot at the money during the first 30 days of the program.

After that, the program will open to all qualifying residents.

That could be important because the money won’t necessarily be available for everyone who qualifies.  It’s first come first serve: According to the county, funds will be granted in the order in which complete applications are received until the money is exhausted.

Grant amounts will be calculated based on the difference between Guilford County property taxes paid in tax year 2021 and tax year 2025.

The program comes at a time when property taxes and property values have become one of the biggest local issues in Guilford County. The county’s 2022 revaluation could lead to sharply higher property values for many homeowners, and the county’s 2026 revaluation has already raised major concerns among residents, local elected officials and state lawmakers.

While this grant program is separate from the ongoing debate over revaluations and tax rates, it’s clearly aimed at helping low-income homeowners who’ve been hit by higher costs and higher tax bills.

Residents may apply online at GuilfordCountyNC.gov/HomeownerAssistance or by submitting a paper application.

Paper applications will be available at both Guilford County Department of Social Services offices: 1203 Maple St. in Greensboro and 325 E. Russell Ave. in High Point.

Completed applications may be submitted or mailed to either DSS office.

Applications sent to the Greensboro office should be mailed to Guilford County DSS – Greensboro, P.O. Box 3388, Greensboro, NC 27402.

Applications sent to the High Point office should be mailed to Guilford County DSS – High Point, P.O. Box 1142, High Point, NC 27261.

Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30.

For more information, residents can visit GuilfordCountyNC.gov/HomeownerAssistance, email liha@guilfordcountync.gov or call (336) 641-6336.

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