Disaster recovery deadlines coming up in January, February
Just before Christmas Gov. Josh Stein said that the deadline to apply for Renew NC, the Hurricane Helene housing recovery program, has been extended until Jan. 31.
After that, another significant disaster recovery deadline is coming up in February—storm victims have until Feb. 28 to apply for assistance from the North Carolina State Private Road and Bridge Repair program.
The Renew NC program is designed to help Western North Carolina residents whose homes were damaged in Hurricane Helene (downgraded to a tropical storm after slowing down over land).
“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 said. “So, we’re extending the application deadline until the end of January to alleviate any stress this holiday season and offer more time for homeowners to get their applications in.”
The previous Renew NC deadline was today (Dec. 31). Pisgah Legal Services, an organization offering disaster-related legal services with an office in Burnsville, has previously encouraged concerned homeowners to come to them for assistance with Renew NC applications and paperwork.
“We’ve seen some homeowners hesitate to apply to Renew NC because they are unsure if the program is a scam or actually real,” said Managing Attorney Julia Horrocks. “This is a genuine opportunity to rebuild and recover. We also hear homeowners say they cannot apply because of title issues with their property, but we encourage them to reach out to see what’s possible.”
The Renew NC program has received 6,500 applications since beginning in June.
“Many western NC communities have requested this extension, and we heard you,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley in the governor’s release. “Communities across the region are still working through the storm’s aftermath, and this additional time will help homeowners gather the necessary information to complete their applications.”
The Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program prioritizes families with low to moderate income with seniors ages 62 and older, children under 18, and/or disabled household members. Residents of 28 storm-affected counties are eligible, including Mitchell, Avery and Yancey.
Homeowners who have already received assistance from home insurance or the Federal Emergency Management Agency are still eligible to apply. There are Renew NC intake centers in Asheville, Boone and Marion, or an online application is available at renewnc.org.