31 Burke homeowners applied for Renew NC funds

The program announced by Gov. Josh Stein in June to help North Carolinians rebuild after Hurricane Helene has received more than 1,000 applications.

Of those applications submitted so far, 31 are from Burke County, Patrice Bethea, deputy communications director for the N.C. Department of Commerce, confirmed to The Paper.

“Too many families in Western North Carolina lost their homes after Hurricane Helene,” Stein said. “This program will help people rebuild their homes and their lives after the storm.”

The Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program is aimed at addressing any remaining long-term recovery needs of homeowners in Western North Carolina. The program prioritizes low- to moderate-income (LMI) families in communities that experienced significant storm damage in the wake of the most destructive storm in state history.

Homeowners in 29 counties, including Burke, may be eligible to apply for assistance. Renew NC officials have visited 207 properties for assessment, including any unrepaired damage from Hurricane Helene. These site assessments provide the necessary information to perform environmental reviews and support application approvals.

“Getting people home is where recovery really begins for survivors and their communities, and Renew NC is focused on getting our most vulnerable families home,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “We will continue working closely with our local and state partners to make sure that recovery reaches every corner of impacted areas in Western North Carolina.”

The Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program (SFHP) is being administered through the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Revitalization (DCR). Renew NC anticipates construction beginning on the first home within the next month.

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

Later this year, Renew NC will introduce two additional housing programs: Multi-Family Housing for small rental projects with seven or fewer units and larger projects with eight or more, and Workforce Housing for Ownership for the development of homeownership opportunities that are affordable to broader segments of the workforce. Infrastructure and Economic Revitalization programs will also be launched in the coming months.

Homeowners seeking more information about the Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program can visit RenewNC.org, call 888-791-0207, or visit an in-person location. The closest site is at 364 U.S. 70, Suite 3, in Marion. Program staff can help determine if the homeowner qualifies for assistance. The Renew NC app is also available for download on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

— AKC