On-Farm Housing Grant Program

The On-Farm Housing Grant Program is an initiative administered by SENPH to support improved living and housing conditions for farmworkers in North Carolina. The program focuses on addressing the housing challenges that agricultural laborers often face by offering grants to support essential upgrades and repairs to existing farm labor housing. The primary goal is to ensure farmworkers have access to safe, stable, and adequate accommodations while living and working on farms across the state. This program operates as part of a broader set of housing initiatives offered by SENPH, which include emergency housing assistance, temporary shelter, permanent housing development, and housing education and counseling services tailored to agricultural workers. The On-Farm Housing Grant Program specifically targets on-farm housing units where farm laborers currently reside, providing critical support to maintain and improve these facilities. To apply for the program, interested parties must first contact SENPH to schedule an on-site visit. This visit is used to assess eligibility based on the proposed scope of work and the number of farmworkers residing in the housing unit. The demand for farm labor must also be demonstrated as part of the application. SENPH Housing Specialists are available to assist applicants in developing a written scope of work and obtaining cost estimates for the project. Once the scope and estimates are finalized, the turnaround time for completing the application and grant agreement is relatively short—typically just a few days. Funding is provided on a first-come, first-served basis, encouraging early application. Nonprofit organizations that own housing used by farmworkers are eligible to apply, making the program accessible to a range of stakeholders within the agricultural housing ecosystem. The program does not impose a minimum funding threshold and operates with a reimbursement deadline of June 30. Though no rolling applications are mentioned, the fixed reimbursement date suggests applicants should plan their submissions with enough lead time to meet the fiscal year-end cutoff. The application process is intentionally streamlined to minimize barriers, but early coordination with SENPH staff is recommended to secure funding and complete necessary paperwork promptly.