From a realtor I know:
"If anyone has been presented with the HOPE Paperwork, I would highly recommend not accepting it. Being the homeowner/landlord, it puts you at a huge disadvantage and can really put you in a bad spot. I'm a Realtor, and we watched a webinar through NCAR (NC Association of Realtors) and they pointed out some huge loopholes for tenants. This being one of them:
C(2) Further, by signing below and as a condition of accepting HOPE Program funds, Landlord:
• agrees that they shall not evict Tenant for non-payment of rent, fees, utilities, or other payments required by the lease within 90 days after the last month’s rent paid by HOPE Program on behalf of Tenant, or for the duration of the lease, whichever is longer.
* Landlord also agrees that they shall not bring an action against Tenant for breach of the lease due to non-payment of rent or fees, and that they are prohibited from bringing a cause of action for collection of debt for rent and fees owed that are paid by HOPE Program assistance
Basically, it means that even if the tenant defaults after this program pays their back rent, you accepting the paperwork means that you cannot evict them if they default again until the length of their lease is over. This is HUGE especially for leases that are year, two-year long leases. "
--50.82.xxx.xxx