Northside/Pine Knolls/Tin Top

 Property Tax Relief Program

For the last ten years or more, neighbors of these historic communities, many of whom have lived here for decades, have faced rapidly increasing property taxes.  Since 2016, the Jackson Center has offered a limited number of small grants (~$200-$1000) to assist with property taxes for aging, long-term, low-moderate income households in Northside, Pine Knolls, and Tin Top.  The goal of this program is to help neighbors stay rooted in these communities.   These limited funds will be available based on eligibility and priority.   This Property Tax Relief Program will prioritize our elderly neighbors, who are mostly on a fixed income, and who are still facing a burden even if they qualify for and receive current relief strategies such as the Homestead Exemption and Circuit Breaker.  

 

Eligibility*:

      Homeowners with a household income less than or equal to (< or =) 80% Area Median Income, defined as the following:

o   For a household of one, less than or equal to $47,500 per year

o   For a household of two, less than or equal to $54,300 per year

o   For a household of three, less than or equal to $61,100 per year

o   For a household of four, less than or equal to $67,850 per year

      *All applicants will need to have participated in or hosted a ÒKeeping Your House A Home: Preservation ToolsÓ discussion by December 1. This 1.5-hour interactive workshop, developed by neighborhood leaders and civil rights attorneys, shares many additional tools and resources that can keep a house a home: property tax resources, home repair programs, legal and financial tools to help ensure the future you want for your home.   There may be other ways to further reduce your home costs or property tax burden, and we want to make sure these resources are shared widely (and hope you will share additional ones you know about too).  If  you have already attended a workshop, we ask you to host one or do a follow-up session with our Community Advocacy Specialist, Kathy Atwater.

 

Priority Households (Limited funds available, attention will be given to the following first):

      At least one homeowner 62 years of age or older and/or disabled.

      Homes in which at least one member of the household has lived in the community more than 10 years.

      Homeowners at a lower income or paying a large percentage of income to property taxes.

      Property taxes are current through 2018 or on a payment plan. If you need help catching up on back taxes, please contact the Jackson Center to discuss options.

 

Application: Fill out the attached application and return it between now and September 13th to the Jackson Center (by hand or by mail).  Applications will be prioritized by age of owner, tenure in the neighborhood, and level of tax burden (taxes as % of income).  Call us with any questions!

 

Estimated Range of Assistance: ~$200-$1000 per household.  

 

Disbursement of Funds: All applicants will be notified by October 15th of your eligibility and the amount of the property tax grant available for your household.  At that point, Jackson Center staff will contact you to finalize a date for ÒKeeping Your House A Home: Preservation ToolsÓ workshop or work with you to host a workshop in your home. Grant funds will be paid directly to Orange County Tax Assessor on behalf of owner via certified check by November 22, 2019.

 

*If you are in need and miss the application window, please contact the Jackson Center

 

PROPERTY TAX SUPPORT APPLICATION:

 

Instructions: Complete this form fully, and submit it to the Jackson Center with income verification. Your private information is 100% confidential; all sensitive information will be shredded once referral to other programs is complete.  As relevant, the Jackson Center will provide you with applications to other home retention & property tax programs for which you may qualify.

 

DATE  _______________

 

APPPLICANTÕS NAME __________________________________________________________________

 

BIRTHDATE OF APPLICANT: _________________

 

STREET ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________________

 

                                   ______________________________________________________________________

 

TELEPHONE #       ______________________________________________________________________

 

 

TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONS LIVING IN HOUSEHOLD AS THEIR PRIMARY RESIDENCE   _____________

 

Name(s) of all additional permanent household members

Birthdate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARE YOU AN OWNER OCCUPANT OF YOUR HOME?    _____Yes            ______No

 

DO YOU HAVE A RECORDED DEED IN YOUR NAME OR THE NAME OF A FAMILY MEMBER?  ____Yes       _____No

 

WHAT YEAR DID YOU* MOVE INTO YOUR HOME?  __________________    

*for household member who has been here longest

 

*HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN NORTHSIDE/PINE KNOLLS/TIN TOP?   ________________

*please list total years of resident who has been here longest

 

IS ANY PERSON IN THE HOUSEHOLD DISABLED?  ___________________

     If yes, what is his/her/their disability, and is that person receiving disability benefits? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

ARE THERE ANY VETERANS IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD? ____________________

 

 

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS PROPERTY TAX PROGRAM?  ________________________________

 

FEEL FREE TO USE THE SPACE BELOW TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR HOUSEHOLD – your history, neighborhood connection, why living in Northside/Pine Knolls/Tin Top is important, etc. (this question isnÕt required):

 

 

 

 

PART II:  INCOME AND PROPERTY TAX INFORMATION:

 

TOTAL HOUSEHOLD ANNUAL INCOME (Fill out chart on the next page to get this #):  ____________

 

2019 PROPERTY TAX BILL AMOUNT (please include a copy):  _______________

 

ARE YOU CURRENT ON YOUR PROPERTY TAXES (through 2018)?  ______________

 

IF NOT, ARE YOU ON A PAYMENT PLAN?    ____________

                  If yes, please describe:  ________________________________________________________________

 

DO YOU HAVE A MORTGAGE ON YOUR HOME?   _____________________

                  If yes, are your taxes through escrow (i.e. through your mortgage company?):  _____

 

PLEASE FILL OUT THE INCOME CHART ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE!

2019 Income Verification Form

 

Calculating Household Income

In order to calculate your householdÕs income, please fill out the worksheet below with the pre-tax income of each person in the house. If someone does not have any income, write their name in the first column and ÒnoneÓ under income source. 

 

The following sources of income should be considered when calculating total household income:

1. Wages, salaries, tips, commissions, etc. (except full-time students);

2. Self-employment income from own non-farm business, including proprietorships and partnerships (except full-time students);

3. Interest, dividends, net rental income, or income from estates or trusts;

4. Social Security or railroad retirement;

5. Supplemental Security Income, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, or other public assistance or public welfare programs;

6. Retirement, survivor, or disability pensions; and

7. Any other sources of income received regularly, including VeteransÕ (VA) payments, unemployment compensation, child support and alimony.

 

Household Income Worksheet

List ALL Household Members

(Repeat household members with multiple sources of income for each source)

Income Source

Monthly Income

Annual Income

1.

 

 

 

2.

 

 

 

3.

 

 

 

4.

 

 

 

5.

 

 

 

6.

 

 

 

7.

 

 

 

8.

 

 

 

 

Total Annual Income:

 

 

Household members are those who live in the same home as their primary residence.

 

2019 Income Verification Form (continued)

If possible, to speed up the referral process, please attach one or more documents verifying all sources of income in the household. These documents can include the following, listed in order from most to least useful:

 

1.     Most recent income tax returns

2.     Annual social security statements

3.     Other retirement income statements

4.     Pay stubs

5.     Monthly bank statements,

6.     Other documents showing your full pre-tax income.

 

I hereby certify that the above information is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge.  The income estimate includes income for all household members.  I understand that I may be required to submit additional documentation.

 

 

 

__________________________________________________ ______________                                 ____________________

ApplicantÕs Signature                                                                                                             Date

                                                     

 

 

 

 

PART III: ÒKEEPING YOUR HOUSE A HOME: PRESERVATION TOOLSÓ Workshop

**All eligible applicants will need to have participated in or hosted a ÒKeeping Your House A Home: Preservation ToolsÓ workshop by December 1. 

 

What is this workshop?  This 1.5-hour interactive workshop, developed by neighborhood leaders and civil rights attorneys, shares many additional tools and resources that can keep a house a home: property tax resources, home repair programs, legal and financial tools to help ensure the future you want for your home.  In this workshop, we discuss the values of homes in the neighborhood, walk through tools that can be used to ensure the future you want for your home, and discuss existing resources and programs that help families stay rooted in our community and ways residents can help shape neighborhood outcomes.  The workshop is designed to be a small group discussion because many neighbors know of tools others do not.  This workshop does not require any private information to be shared.

 

What does participation require?   You can simply participate in a workshop hosted at the Jackson Center.  This would require you to sign up for one of the sessions below, attend at the designated time, and participate for a 1.5 hour workshop/discussion. 

 

What does hosting a workshop involve?  We have had several neighbors who have invited a few of their neighbors to their homes and hosted the workshop along with Jackson Center staff.  This provides an opportunity to ensure the discussion is with neighbors you know well.  We have had other neighbors who are homebound or prefer privacy. 

PART III CONTINUED: ÒKEEPING YOUR HOUSE A HOME: PRESERVATION TOOLSÓ

*see prior page for more information

 

These neighbors can also host a private workshop at their homes. If you are interested in having the workshop at your home, please check the box below to host and we will be in touch with you to schedule this in October/November.

 

What if I have already attended or hosted a workshop?  We ask that you help organize a workshop with neighbors or family members who have not attended or sign up for a one-on-one follow-up session with our staff. 

 

Why is this workshop required?  The goal of this property tax relief program is to assist neighbors with the rising costs of living and to help neighbors stay here who wish to stay here.  There are many other additional resources, many of which are more substantial and permanent than our grant funds.  We want to make sure all of these resources are shared and mobilized.  This also gives us a chance to learn about new tools from neighbors as well.

 

 

 

Please check at least one option below:

 

___  Option 1:  I have not attended a workshop and will be happy to attend one in the coming month.

 

                                   

___  Option 2:   I am interested in hosting a workshop at my home. 

 

 

___  Option 3:  I have attended a workshop and would like a follow-up session.  A few neighbors I would recommend for a workshop would be: 

 

 

 

FINAL APPLICATION CHECKLIST:

 

Please turn in this application to the Jackson Center, attention Kathy Atwater.  You can bring it in or mail it (contact information at bottom of page).

 

APPLICATION COMPONENT:                                                           COMPLETED (X):

Application Part 1 (General and Contact Information)

 

Application Part 2 (Income and Property Tax Information)

 

Application Part 3 (Keeping Your House A Home Sign-up)

 

Attachments for Verification of Income

 

Copy of Property Tax Bill