Governor Josh Stein announced that western North Carolina homeowners can now apply for a program aimed at repairing or rebuilding homes damaged by Hurricane Helene. This initiative is part of the Renew NC Housing Program under the North Carolina Commerce Department’s Division of Community Revitalization.
“Helene caused significant damage to thousands of homes across western North Carolina,” said Governor Josh Stein. “There is a lot of work to do, and the Renew NC Housing program is the next step in helping western North Carolinians recover. If your home was damaged by Hurricane Helene, you may be eligible for assistance depending on your income, so I encourage you to apply today.”
The program focuses on long-term recovery needs and prioritizes low-to-moderate income families. Additional programs addressing multi-family housing and workforce housing will follow later this year, alongside infrastructure and economic revitalization initiatives.
“We’re ready to get hammers swinging and home construction underway,” stated Lee Lilley, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce. “Today’s opening of the application period for our Renew NC Housing program is an important milestone for Hurricane Helene survivors and western North Carolina’s recovery.”
Stephanie McGarrah, Deputy Secretary of the Division of Community Revitalization, emphasized urgency in restoring homes: “We know the road to recovery from Hurricane Helene will be a long one. We are moving with urgency and care to restore homes and rebuild communities through this program.”
The programs are funded through a Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery grant from HUD. Of $1.4 billion allocated for recovery needs in western North Carolina, $807 million supports the Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program.
Eligible homeowners are encouraged by Governor Stein to apply at www.renewnc.org if their homes were impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Applications are open to residents in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg (only zip code 28214), Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Surry, Swain, Transylvania Watauga Wilkes Yadkin Yancey counties.
For more details about eligibility or assistance from the Renew NC Housing Program visit www.renewnc.org or call 1-888-791-0207. Administrative information is available at CommerceRecovery.nc.gov.
