Renew NC Housing Recovery Assistance Deadline Is Tomorrow for Western North Carolina Homeowners

Homeowners across western North Carolina have until tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 31, to apply for housing recovery assistance through Renew NC’s Single-Family Housing Program, the state’s long-term disaster recovery effort following Hurricane Helene.

State officials say the deadline is firm and are urging eligible homeowners to submit an application before time runs out. Applications may be completed online, in person, by phone, or through the Renew NC mobile app.

“North Carolina is committed to helping families who lost their homes during Hurricane Helene recover,” Gov. Josh Stein said. “Renew NC’s Single-Family Housing Program is getting people back into safe and restored homes, and we want to ensure every eligible homeowner has the opportunity to apply before the January 31 deadline.”

Who Can Apply

The Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program provides rehabilitation, reconstruction, replacement, and reimbursement assistance for owner-occupied homes damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene. The program serves homeowners in 28 western North Carolina counties, including Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cleveland, Henderson, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, and Watauga, as well as ZIP code 28214 in Mecklenburg County.

Priority is given to low- to moderate-income households, particularly those with seniors age 62 and older, children under 18, and/or household members with disabilities.

Homeowners who have already received FEMA assistance or insurance payments related to Hurricane Helene are still eligible to apply. Renew NC is designed to address unmet housing needs after other assistance has been exhausted.

How to Apply Before the Deadline

• Online: RenewNC.org

• Phone: 1-888-791-0207

• Email: HeleneRecovery@RenewNC.org

• In Person: At a local Renew NC intake center

In-person assistance is available in English and Spanish at intake centers in Asheville, Boone, and Marion, open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Additional intake locations operate across western North Carolina with varying hours.

Officials encourage homeowners to begin an application before the deadline, noting that applicants who start by Jan. 31 may be given additional time to submit required documentation.

Program Progress

As of this week, Renew NC reports more than 7,500 applications received statewide, with nearly one-third currently under review. To date, 86 homeowners have been awarded grants, and 74 projects are in the pre-construction phase.

Construction has been completed on 14 homes across Buncombe, Cleveland, Gaston, Henderson, McDowell, Polk, and Wilkes counties. Another 15 construction projects are currently underway in Buncombe, Henderson, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, and Watauga counties.

What Happens Next

Once the application window closes tomorrow, Renew NC will shift its focus to reviewing applications, confirming eligibility, and advancing qualified homeowners through the construction process as quickly as possible.

Renew NC is funded through Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered by the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Revitalization. Of the $1.4 billion in federal disaster recovery funding allocated to western North Carolina, $807 million supports the Single-Family Housing Program.

More information is available at RenewNC.org.