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How homeowners in western North Carolina can apply for housing recovery

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A drawing from a first grader following Hurricane Helene. Courtesy of Ryan Mitchell

Applications are being accepted for a new program to rehabilitate, reconstruct, or replace homes in western North Carolina that were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene, according to a press release.

“Helene caused significant damage to thousands of homes across western North Carolina,” said Gov. Josh Stein. “There is a lot of work to do, and 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 Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program will address the long-term recovery needs of homeowners in western North Carolina, according to the press release. The program will prioritize low-to-moderate income (LMI) families with children under 18, seniors over 62, and/or disabled household members. Whether your repairs are complete or still needed and whether your home needs accessibility modifications will impact your priority in processing.

Homeowners in these counties are eligible to apply: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg (only in ZIP code 28214), Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey.

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According to data from the N.C. Department of Commerce, not including Mecklenburg, school districts were the top employer in 16 of the 28 counties in quarter four of 2024, and in the top three in 26 of 28 counties.

Here is the landing page for Renew NC.

Here is the starting point for the application.

You can also apply in person, on the mobile app, or by phone. Translation services are available.

Whether the income of educators will count as LMI depends on the area median income (AMI) of your county, your household income, and how many people live in your house.

To check the 2025 income limits, click here. Scroll down and under “Access Individual Income Limits Areas” click the brown button that says “Click Here for FY 2025 IL Documentation.” Select North Carolina. Then select your county and click “View County Calculations.”

Here is an example of the income limits for Alexander County.

Here are the documents you will need to apply:

If you need assistance, call 1-888-791-0207, and the staff can help you determine if you qualify for assistance from the program.

Renew NC is funded through a Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), according to the press release. Of the total $1.4 billion in CDBG-DR funding that was allocated to the state for western North Carolina recovery needs, $807 million is allocated to the Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program. 

“We’re ready to get hammers swinging and home construction underway,” said North Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley.

Here is a resources page with more information, including answers to frequently asked questions.