Renew NC has completed repairs on the first home through its Single-Family Housing Program (SFHP), marking a significant step in North Carolina’s long-term disaster recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. The program is funded by a federal Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
North Carolina is the first state impacted by Hurricane Helene to launch a home renovation and reconstruction initiative using HUD CDBG-DR funding, and it is the fastest state since Hurricane Sandy to begin such rebuilding efforts after a major hurricane.
“Rebuilding safe and sustainable housing is crucial to helping western North Carolina get back on its feet,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Completing our first home is an important milestone in the Hurricane Helene recovery process. I applaud my team for moving at record speed. Let’s keep swinging hammers and getting more families back home.”
The SFHP, administered by the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Revitalization (DCR), has received over 1,900 applications from homeowners seeking assistance with repairs or reconstruction due to storm damage caused by Hurricane Helene. A public dashboard that tracks application progress, including totals by county and review status, is available at RenewNC.org.
With $807 million allocated for the program out of $1.4 billion in total CDBG-DR funding for western North Carolina recovery needs, Renew NC prioritizes low- to moderate-income families in communities most affected by the storm. Homeowners across 29 counties and one ZIP code in Mecklenburg County are eligible to apply.
“We know that housing is the key to rebuilding communities impacted by Helene,” said Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “We are committed to getting our neighbors back home as quickly and safely as we can, and Renew NC is essential to that effort.”
Matalene Waters was the first homeowner approved for assistance through SFHP. She described how flooding during Hurricane Helene damaged her property: “When Helene came, the flood came down the street and into the backyard, and it came all the way up to the [outdoor] light sockets. It flooded all of my furniture and appliances, so we had to destroy all of that. You don’t realize how much it affects your mind. You’re thinking you’re okay, but you’re not.” Her daughter April Stewart supported her throughout this period: “My mom is my hero. To get her back into her home, that was the plan. It wasn’t about relocating, uprooting her. This is where her roots are. This is where my children’s memories are. To get her back into her home, that was the priority.”
“With the construction phase of our Single-Family Housing Program underway, we’re looking forward to helping restore housing stability across the region,” said Division of Community Revitalization Deputy Secretary Stephanie McGarrah.
The program employs local residents at call centers and mobile sites while canvassing teams work within neighborhoods to identify eligible homeowners who have not yet applied for assistance—a strategy credited with increasing applications from 1,000 on August 12th to over 1,900 by August 27th.
Homeowners interested in applying can visit RenewNC.org or contact staff via phone or at designated locations for eligibility support; there are also app options available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
In addition to single-family housing support, Renew NC will roll out programs later this year targeting multi-family rental projects—both small (seven or fewer units) and large (eight or more units)—as well as workforce ownership opportunities designed for broader affordability among workers in western North Carolina communities.
Further details about program administration can be found at CommerceRecovery.nc.gov.
