When Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina, it left Ms. Velma’s longtime house in such bad shape that fixing it would have cost more than starting from scratch, and her homeowner's insurer still denied the claim. Renew NC's Single-Family Housing Program stepped in, pairing her with case managers and local builders, and this week she got the keys to a completely rebuilt home. Governor Josh Stein spotlighted the handover on social media as one example of the state's push to get western North Carolinians back home.
How Renew NC Helped Rebuild Her House
The Single-Family Housing Program centralizes rehabilitation, reconstruction and replacement assistance for eligible homeowners and has handled thousands of applications since its launch, according to Renew NC. Applicants go through intake centers and are assigned case managers who coordinate with contractors, turning what could be a solo paperwork slog into a guided process.
The state has recorded other “welcome home” moments as projects wrap up, including a Vilas homeowner who was handed new keys after construction finished, per the Division of Community Revitalization. Ms. Velma's key ceremony, highlighted by Stein on X, now joins that list.
Budget Pours Hundreds of Millions Into Helene Recovery
Gov. Stein recently signed a full state budget that his administration says puts more than $700 million toward Hurricane Helene recovery, according to the governor's office. The enacted appropriations act specifies about $706.1 million for the Helene fund and sets aside $40 million for a Temporary Relocation Assistance Program run by the Department of Commerce, with up to $20 million available to cover cash-flow needs, per Senate Bill 257.
Short-Term Housing Still Slows Long-Term Recovery
Local officials and advocates say the hardest part is often finding somewhere for families to live while their homes are rebuilt, and a lack of temporary housing options has pushed back repairs, as reported by WUNC. The State Action Plan notes that federal CDBG-DR rules restrict certain uses of recovery funds, limiting mortgage or rental assistance while allowing optional temporary relocation benefits for homeowners in reconstruction programs, which makes it tougher for some families to move back in quickly, according to the State Action Plan.
Renew NC and the governor's office say more homes are expected to move into construction in the coming months as projects advance. Homeowners in the 29 eligible counties can contact Renew NC at 1-888-791-0207 or visit the program website for intake and status updates, according to Renew NC.
