Deadline Extension Announced for North Carolina’s Housing Recovery Program
In a move to further aid homeowners affected by Hurricane Helene, North Carolina’s Renew NC program has extended the application deadline for its Single-Family Housing Program (SFHP) until January 31. This extension allows additional time for western North Carolina residents to apply for assistance in repairing, reconstructing, or replacing homes impacted by the storm. Notably, North Carolina’s housing recovery efforts have been implemented more swiftly than in any other state affected by Helene.
Governor Josh Stein emphasized the importance of this extension, stating, “It has been a very challenging year for our neighbors in western North Carolina, and we want to give folks every opportunity to apply for housing support.” Stein added that the extension aims to alleviate stress during the holiday season and provide homeowners with more time to apply.
Since its launch in June, the Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program has seen an influx of over 6,500 applications. Efforts to repair and rebuild have already commenced, with projects completed in Buncombe, Henderson, McDowell, and Polk counties, and numerous others underway.
Addressing the needs of the community, N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley remarked, “Many western NC communities have requested this extension, and we heard you.” The additional time is intended to assist homeowners in gathering necessary documentation to complete their applications.
The program, overseen by the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Revitalization (DCR), continues to make progress with ongoing construction in counties including Buncombe, Cleveland, Gaston, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Watauga, and Wilkes.
Targeting low- to moderate-income families, especially those with seniors, children, or disabled members, the program is accessible to homeowners in 28 counties and one ZIP code in western North Carolina. These areas include Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg (28214), Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey.
Even those who have received assistance from FEMA or through home insurance are eligible to apply, as the program aims to fill gaps in housing recovery needs unmet by other sources.
For personalized assistance, homeowners can visit Renew NC intake centers in Asheville, Boone, and Marion, where bilingual case managers are available Monday through Saturday. Additional locations throughout western North Carolina operate with varied schedules.
Homeowners interested in the program can find more details at RenewNC.org, call (888) 791-0207, or visit an in-person location. The Renew NC app, available on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, offers further resources.
Following the deadline, Renew NC will focus on reviewing applications, assessing budgetary needs, and advancing qualified applicants through the subsequent review and construction phases efficiently.
Funded by a Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) from HUD, the program is supported by $807 million of the $1.4 billion allocated to the state for recovery efforts.
More detailed information about the administration of these programs can be found on the Division of Community Revitalization’s website at CommerceRecovery.nc.gov.
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