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Western Piedmont Council of Governments Regional Housing Authority
Western Piedmont Council of Governments Regional Housing Authority is a Public Housing Agency that participates in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. As of July 15th, 2020, Western Piedmont Council of Governments Regional Housing Authority has 1 waiting lists that are open now or opening soon.
The Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba County, North Carolina Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List is open indefinitely.
Western Piedmont Council of Governments Regional Housing Authority serves Alexander County, Burke County, Caldwell County and Catawba County.
Waiting List Statuses
| Waiting List | Status |
|---|
| Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba County, North Carolina Housing Choice Voucher |
Open Until Further Notice |
Open Western Piedmont Council of Governments Regional Housing Authority Waiting Lists
Due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, some waiting list openings may be postponed until further notice. Visit the housing authority's website for the latest on its current operations, if one is available. If there is no information online, contact the housing authority directly. Due to a high volume of calls and modified office hours in most areas, it may take days or weeks to get a response.
Western Piedmont Council of Governments Regional Housing Authority Website: http://www.wpcog.org.
Western Piedmont Council of Governments Regional Housing Authority Phone: (828) 322-9191.
Open Until Further Notice:
Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba County, North Carolina Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List
Please Note: Due to the decentralized nature of affordable housing information, the information about this waiting list may be out of date.
How To Apply to the Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List
The Western Piedmont Council of Governments Regional Housing Authority (WPCOG/RHA) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is currently open indefinitely. This waiting list opened for application distribution on January 3, 2017, and for application submission on February 20, 2017. It was last open for more than two weeks in April 2016.
There are two ways to apply:
- Download and print the application online. The application is available in English, Spanish, and Hmong.
- Pick up an application the WPCOG office, located at 1880 Second Avenue NW, Hickory, NC 28601, from 8:15 am until 5:00 pm.
Once the application has been completed, it must be:
- Mailed to the WPCOG at PO Box 9026, Hickory, NC 28603 on or after February 20, 2017.
- Hand delivered to the WPCOG at 1880 Second Avenue NW, Hickory, NC 28601, from 8:15 am until 5:00 pm on or after February 20, 2017.
This waiting list has the following preferences: Veteran, disabled, homeless, resident of Alexander, Burke, Caldwell or Catawba County.
Selected applicants will be placed on the waiting list by date and time of application submission, by order of preferences.
For more information, read the WPCOG/RHA public notice, visit the WPCOG/RHA website, or call the office at (828) 322-9191.
Reasonable Accommodation
Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (828) 485-4282.
Next Steps
Learn more about what happens after the application is submitted.
Last Updated on 06/28/2018.
About Western Piedmont Council of Governments Regional Housing Authority
More information about Western Piedmont Council of Governments Regional Housing Authority can be found on its website at http://www.wpcog.org.
Representatives of Western Piedmont Council of Governments Regional Housing Authority may be available by phone at (828) 322-9191. Unless otherwise noted above, applications will not be provided or accepted by phone.
About the Western Piedmont Council of Governments Regional Housing Authority Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
As of the HUDs most recent Voucher Management System report, Western Piedmont Council of Governments Regional Housing Authority manages 1,017 active Housing Choice Vouchers.
The following is a summary of the types of vouchers managed and the monthly costs of each as of December 31st, 2019:
|
Standard | Homeownership | Family Unification | Ported Out |
| Vouchers |
986 | 4 | 19 | 8 |
| Monthly Cost Per Voucher |
$366 | $342 | $557 | $1,198 |
| Monthly Cost |
$360,847 | $1,367 | $10,575 | $9,583 |
Household Characteristics of Voucher Holders for Western Piedmont Council of Governments Regional Housing Authority
Waiting List and Tenancy
According to the 2016 Q4 Picture of Subsidized Households database, the housing authority's voucher program has an annual turnover of 12% having issued approximately 85 vouchers in the past year. The average voucher holder has received housing benefits for 6 years and 4 months. According to the 2016 PSH database, persons who were issued a voucher in the preceding 12 months waited an average of 18 months on the waiting list1.
Income Characteristics
According to 2016 Q4 Picture of Subsidized Households data, the average voucher household contains 2.2 persons and has a household income of $10,482 per year. 96% of households were very low income (VLI) and 68% were extremely low income (ELI). 24% of households had wages as a major source of income, 0% of households had welfare (TANF, General Assistance or Public Assistance) as their primary source of income, and 71% of households had other income (Social Security, Disability or Pension) as their major source of income.
Heads of Household Characteristics
4% of households were headed by a person 24 years old or less, 52% were headed by a person 25 to 49 years old, 23% were headed by a person 51 to 60 years old, and 21% were headed by a person 62 years old or older. In addition, 1% of households were headed by a person 85 years old or older.
47% of households included children, 2% of which had two adults in the household. 44% of households with children have a female head of household. 86% of all households were headed by a female.
47% of all voucher households were headed by minorities with 44% of all heads of households being Black and 1% being Hispanic.
Of all households participating in the Western Piedmont Council of Governments Regional Housing Authority Housing Choice Voucher program, 25% include at least one person with a disability. 41% of households with a head of household 61 years or less were headed by a person with a disability. 74% of households headed by someone 62 or older were headed by a person with a disability.
Bedroom Size and Overhousing
16% of voucher holders reside in a home with zero or 1 bedroom, 50% with 2 bedrooms and 33% with 3 or more bedrooms. 35% of voucher recipients are considered overhoused, meaning they occupy a rental unit larger than their family size requires.
Rent, Assistance, and Utility Allowances
The average monthly tenant contribution to rent by Western Piedmont Council of Governments Regional Housing Authority voucher holders in 2016 was $290 and the average monthly HUD expenditure per voucher holder was $490. The average utility allowance across all voucher recipients is $164.
1. This Picture of Subsidized Households data field is the average wait time of those who received a voucher in the preceding 12 months. Due to special voucher programs like VASH, recent waiting list purges, or waiting list preferences the average wait time can vary significantly from one year to the next and it is entirely possible many current applicants on the waiting list have been waiting for assistance for far longer.
