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Housing Call: October 15, 2024

In light of Hurricane Helene and the various resources that we know our communities in WNC are in need of – this will be our focus for the housing call for Tuesday October 15, 2024. An abbreviated version of the traditional call notes that includes links to federal, state, and local updates as well as news, reports, resources, and events are included succeeding the information relating to assistance and support for those impacted by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina (WNC).

 

Information regarding Disaster Recovery Resources as of October 15, 2024 at 9:00AM.

  • Resources to support recovery from Hurricane Helene – database available here: https://tinyurl.com/NCHC4WNC.
  • Know of other critical recovery resources? Submit them to our database by filling out this form: https://tinyurl.com/WNCResourcesNCHC OR by emailing us at info@nchousing.org.
  • From reports given during the Housing RSF meeting on Thursday, October 10, there were:
    • 143,000 people signed up for FEMA Individual Assistance;
    • 1,244 families checked in to Temporary Shelter Assistance placements (around 3,300 people);
    • 16 shelters were open serving 169 people who were experiencing homelessness pre-disaster; and
    • $69 million had been distributed in disaster recovery benefits.
  • Several Disaster Recovery Centers have opened at this point in Buncombe, McDowell, Caldwell, and Jackson Counties.
  • As the courts have reopened, there were 40 evictions on the docket in Buncombe County yesterday, and 22 in Henderson County. Members of the NC Inclusive Disaster Recovery Network have been pushing the Governor’s office and the Chief Justice of the NC Supreme Court to put a 90-day pause on evictions, as there is nowhere for people to go. You can read the letter here
  • We have taken several calls from folks who cannot yet access their rental housing, and yet are still being asked for the rent. To clarify, there is no legal option for tenants to withhold rent in North Carolina, and landlords are within their rights to demand rent even if the housing is inaccessible.

Due to our focus on Hurricane Helene – the housing call notes will include abbreviated updates and links to federal, state, and local news. Additional links with relevant resources, reports, and events are included below as well.

 

Federal updates

  • As a reminder, Congress is in recess until after the November election. House leadership is telling lawmakers that federal agencies have enough money right now to handle the recovery from hurricanes Helene and Milton until lawmakers return Nov. 12. So far, it doesn’t appear that Congress intends to return to Washington early despite growing calls to do so from lawmakers in both parties.
  • We are also beginning to talk to the NC delegation about a LIHTC disaster allocation from a future disaster recovery bill. We did not receive one in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. Our counterparts in TN, GA, and KY are also working with their delegations as well. We will have more details on this in the coming weeks

 

State & Local Updates

  • NC lawmakers approved $273M to support disaster recovery efforts in western NC | NC Newsline
    • Legislative leaders are calling this a “first step” in their response.
    • House bill 149 moved quickly through both chambers, where it was passed unanimously on Wednesday and was signed into law by the governor on Thursday
    • Funding breakdown:
      • $250M in matching funds for federal disaster assistance
      • $16M for lost compensation for school nutrition programs
      • $5M to state board of elections for voter outreach and communication in affected areas
      • $2M to provide technical assistance on local recovery funds
    • The General Assembly will reconvene on October 24 where they are expected to pass a second round of funding

 

Events

 

Reports & Resources

 

In the News

Recommended read

Housing Call: October 8, 2024

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