Friends,

I'm thankful for the opportunity to represent our community in the General Assembly, and I'm proud to have been elected to serve my constituents for another two years. I will always stand up for our public schools and our environment, and I will continue to make myself available to anyone who has questions or concerns about our political process in the General Assembly.

As we approach the holiday season, I want to make sure that everyone in my district is aware of the new holiday health and safety guidance from DHHS. As the holidays approach, many people are planning to travel and to see friends and family. And as the weather turns colder, many people will have no other option but to remain indoors for their family gatherings.

If you are planning to see friends or family over the holidays, I urge you to review the guidance below to keep you and your guests as safe as possible. Some highlights from the document include:

  1. Have all guests quarantine for 14 days prior to the gathering.
  2. Have all guests receive a COVID-19 test prior to the gathering.
  3. Keep the guest list as small as possible and have high-risk guests attend virtually.
Reminder: the General Assembly will reconvene on January 13th, 2021.

Although the General Assembly is not currently in session, my office is open and utilizing teleworking technologies to meet your needs. We are still able to address any questions or concerns you might have. We will just not be physically in the Legislative Building for a short time. You can still contact my office by emailing vonhaefenla@ncleg.net or by calling 919-715-0795.

Please contact me at any time. I am here to serve you.

Sincerely,
Representative Julie von Haefen
COVID-19 Update
Continuation of Phase 3 and Reduction of Indoor Mass Gathering Limit
Distance
On Tuesday, Governor Roy Cooper announced that North Carolina’s indoor mass gathering limit will be lowered to 10 people in an effort to drive down North Carolina’s key COVID-19 metrics. Executive Order 176 went into effect on Friday, November 13 and will be in place through Friday, December 4.
 
As the weather gets colder, more people will be gathering indoors. Science has shown that indoor gatherings increase risk of transmission of COVID-19, and this Executive Order seeks to limit indoor gatherings that could rapidly and dangerously spread the virus. 
 
The Order does not change the reduced capacity limits for certain businesses that have already been laid out. For more on this, read the Frequently Asked Questions document. 
 
Governor Cooper and NC DHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen also underscored the need for people to wear a mask anytime they gather with people outside of their immediate household. As the holiday season approaches, NCDHHS released health guidance to help people celebrate as safely as possible without spreading the virus. 
Extra Credit Grant Program for Parents: UPDATE
North Carolina's COVID-19 relief package included a $335 payment to parents with children. The deadline for a taxpayer with at least one child to apply for the Extra Credit Grant has been extended to December 7.

Note that most people DO NOT need to apply. If you filed a tax return for the 2019 tax year, you do not need to apply.
 
But if you did not file a tax return for 2019, you must apply before December 7 to receive your money.
Office Updates
House Wake! Eviction Prevention Program
Wake County and community partners have launched the House Wake! COVID-19 Eviction Prevention Program. This program focuses on preventing the displacement of Wake County renters who lost income as a result of COVID-19.

The three-step program offers:

  • Financial assistance to tenants and landlords to cover rent shortfalls resulting from a loss of income through a partnership with Telamon Corporation;
  • Free legal support through a partnership with Legal Aid of North Carolina for tenants who need a lawyer to negotiate filed evictions with landlords or other legal services; and
  • Assistance relocating residents whose housing could not be stabilized through steps 1 or 2.

Residents are eligible if:

  • They are renters legally residing in Wake County;
  • They have a legally binding NC lease that covers the assistance period;
  • They have been economically impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic period of March 13 – present, resulting in the loss of income and inability to pay rent; and
  • They do not receive any other forms of rental assistance payments such as Housing Choice Voucher - Section 8, or senior housing or disabled housing with rental assistance subsidies.

Questions? Call 919-899-9911 or email housing@telamon.org.
Get Your Flu Shot!
The first and most important step in protecting you and your family from the flu virus is to get a flu vaccine each year. Yet many North Carolinians don’t get vaccinated.

Contact your health care provider or visit https://vaccinefinder.org/ to find a convenient location to get a flu vaccination near you.