Renew NC Extends Housing Assistance for NC Hurricane Helene Recovery Through 2025

Renew NC, North Carolina's disaster recovery initiative, is urging homeowners in western North Carolina to apply for housing recovery assistance through its Single-Family Housing Program (SFHP) by December 31, 2025. Administered by the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Revitalization (DCR), this program provides rehabilitation, reconstruction, replacement, or reimbursement for homes damaged by Hurricane Helene. Since its launch in June, over 6,000 applications have been received, with several projects underway across multiple communities including Black Mountain, Hendersonville, and Gastonia. To increase outreach, Renew NC expanded its neighborhood canvassing teams and call center resources, utilizing local residents affected by Hurricane Helene to assist in the application process. Priority is given to low- to moderate-income families, especially seniors, children under 18, and disabled household members, across 28 counties and one ZIP code in western North Carolina. The program allows homeowners who have previously received assistance from FEMA or home insurance to apply, aiming to address any remaining recovery needs after other aid sources are exhausted. As of December 1, significant progress has been reported, including 68 signed grant agreements, several projects under construction, and five completed housing projects. Renew NC provides multilingual support via intake centers and numerous locations in western North Carolina, ensuring application assistance is accessible. Homeowners can also access information online and via a dedicated mobile app. The program is funded by an $807 million allocation from a $1.4 billion Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to North Carolina. This housing recovery program reflects ongoing efforts by the state to address disaster recovery with a focus on streamlining assistance and rebuilding resilient housing in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Renew NC continues to collaborate with local governments and community organizations to facilitate recovery and support homeowners impacted by the disaster.