In response to the pressing need for housing solutions post-Hurricane Helene, a new initiative has been launched to support affected residents in securing temporary accommodations. The Temporary Relocation Assistance Program, backed by a $40 million allocation, is a component of the latest state budget aimed at facilitating home repairs.
This program is especially targeted at low-income homeowners who find themselves without a place to stay during the reconstruction of their damaged homes. Governor Josh Stein emphasized the significance of this funding, stating, “You need to have somewhere to live temporarily while the construction’s going on. And the legislature did what we asked them to do and gave us the money…they certainly gave us some money that will help us accelerate this home reconstruction program.”
The initiative is linked to Renew NC, a broader $807 million repair program dedicated to restoring single-family homes impacted by the hurricane. To date, Renew NC has finalized 92 repair projects, with two located in Asheville. Many more applicants have been pre-approved and are in the initial stages of the repair process, which includes contractor assignments, permit arrangements, and relocation logistics when necessary.
Earlier this year, Stephanie McGarrah, leader of Renew NC, highlighted the challenges posed by insufficient temporary housing funds, terming it a “chokepoint” leading to delays in construction and withdrawals from the program. McGarrah explained, “What’s happened is we’ve started to have applicants who just won’t move. They don’t have anywhere they can go, so they won’t move and we can’t repair or rebuild their homes.”
While some contractors and non-profit organizations have stepped in to assist with relocations, the state’s Department of Commerce has yet to provide specific data on the number of applicants affected by these housing issues. The newly allocated budget aims to cover temporary housing for the duration of repair projects, with an additional 21 days allotted for moving in and out procedures.
This funding is intended to support individuals who have demonstrated difficulty in securing housing by exhausting all other available options, such as staying with relatives, friends, or through volunteer assistance.
