North Carolina Construction News staff writer
The North Carolina Department of Commerce has opened applications for a new program aimed at repairing or rebuilding homes in western North Carolina damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene.
“We’re ready to get hammers swinging and home construction underway,” said Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “Today’s opening of the application period is an important milestone for Hurricane Helene survivors and western North Carolina’s recovery.”
The initiative, called the Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program, is the first in a series of recovery efforts under the broader Renew NC program, led by the Department’s Division of Community Revitalization. It will prioritize assistance for low- to moderate-income homeowners affected by the 2024 storm.
“Hurricane Helene caused significant damage to thousands of homes across western North Carolina,” said Governor Josh Stein in a statement Tuesday. “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 is supported by a $1.4 billion federal Community Development Block Grant for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR), administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Of that total, $807 million has been earmarked specifically for the single-family housing initiative.
Additional housing assistance programs under the Renew NC banner are expected later this year, targeting multi-family units and workforce homeownership. Infrastructure and economic revitalization efforts will also roll out in the coming months.
Stephanie McGarrah, Deputy Secretary of the Division of Community Revitalization and a native of western North Carolina, emphasized the program’s urgency. “We know the road to recovery from Hurricane Helene will be a long one,” she said. “We are moving with urgency and care to restore homes and rebuild communities.”
Property owners in the following counties can apply: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg (limited to ZIP code 28214), Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey.
Eligible homeowners can apply and find more information at www.renewnc.org or by calling 1-888-791-0207. Details about the administration of the program are also available at CommerceRecovery.nc.gov.