Wake County's Resilient Homes program pays up to $35,000 toward roof, HVAC, wiring and plumbing repairs. Holly Springs owners under the income limit can apply now.

Holly Springs homeowners who cannot afford a major repair can now apply for up to $35,000 in grant money from Wake County. The county opened applications for its new Resilient Homes program on Oct. 12.

The program covers homes anywhere in Wake County except Raleigh and Cary. Holly Springs, Apex, Fuquay-Varina and the rest of the county are included, according to the county’s announcement.

Wake County runs it with the nonprofit Preserving Home. Resilient Homes folds the county’s existing repair efforts into one program and raises the amount each household can get, the county said.

What it pays for

The county lists repairs to unsafe or outdated home systems, including:

  • a leaking or failing roof
  • heating and cooling systems that have stopped working
  • faulty wiring and plumbing problems
  • unsafe stairs
  • weatherization
  • ramps and other mobility and accessibility changes
  • radon and lead-based paint hazards

“People work hard to buy a home and build a life there,” Commissioner Tara Waters said in the release. “Resilient Homes recognizes that investment and can help make sure a costly repair doesn’t become an obstacle to maintaining it.”

Who can apply

To qualify, a homeowner must:

  • have a household income below 50% of the area median income: currently $52,950 for a household of two and $66,150 for a household of four
  • have less than $25,000 in assets, not counting the home
  • own a home on a permanent foundation in Wake County, outside Raleigh and Cary
  • be current on property taxes

The county’s release gave the income limits for two- and four-person households only.

Those limits sit well below the town’s typical income. Median household income in Holly Springs was $132,435 in the Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey five-year estimates. The program is aimed at owners living on much less than that.

What it means for you

  • Apply online through the county’s Resilient Homes application portal. You will need to create an account.
  • Stay current on your tax bill. Owners behind on property taxes do not qualify. Our property taxes guide explains how to pay in installments before the Jan. 5, 2027, deadline.
  • Know someone who could use it? A parent or neighbor with a failing roof or furnace may not see the county’s announcement. The program is new, and the county has not said how many homes it can fund.