Housing Call: October 22, 2024 – North Carolina Housing Coalition

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 22, 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 22, 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 18, there were:
186,775 people signed up for FEMA Individual Assistance;
$108,314,208 distributed in individual benefits;
3,478 families checked in to Temporary Shelter Assistance placements (around 5,104 people);
- This is a big increase from the previous week when there were only 1,244 families utilizing the program. However, not a lot considering 130,452 households are eligible. There are only a few hotels and motels in WNC accepting FEMA hotel/motel vouchers for people who still have jobs in the area they need to report to in person. Schools are also starting back up in-person.

6 additional FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers opened last week. There are now 10 Disaster Recovery Centers open (Buncombe, Mitchell, Watauga, Transylvania, Henderson, Ashe, McDowell, Caldwell, Haywood, and Jackson Counties).
Pisgah Legal Services is offering free, in-person FEMA individual assistance application clinics:

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 – Burnsville

10am – 3pm at Cane River Middle School
1128 Cane River School Rd, Burnsville, NC 28714

Friday, October 25, 2024 – Morganton

10am – 2pm at PLS Morganton Office
305 E Union St, Ste A130, Morganton, NC 28655

Monday, October 28, 2024 – Spruce Pine

10am – 3pm at TRACTOR Food & Farms
10992 NC-226, Spruce Pine, NC 287779

If you live in Western NC and were impacted by Hurricane Helene, you may be eligible for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits to help you buy food. The deadline to apply is this Thursday, October 24.

Who is eligible?

Residents of Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey Counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (zip code 28719).
Households must not currently receiving regular Food and Nutrition Services (FNS or “food stamps”) benefits.
Households must be impacted by Hurricane Helene with losses such as property damage or income loss.
Households must have income and resources below certain levels.
People who are typically not eligible for SNAP because of a drug-related felony conviction are eligible for D-SNAP.

You can register by phone or in-person between the hours of 8 am – 4 pm. For locations and hours, visit the NCDHHS D-SNAP Info Page

Last Wednesday, about 75 people from across Buncombe County gathered in front of the courthouse to call for a 90-day rent and foreclosure moratorium.
That same day, Gov. Cooper issued an executive order temporarily increasing maximum unemployment benefits for Western North Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene from $350/week to $600/week. While this is a step forward, foreclosure and eviction protections are still very much needed.
Members of the General Assembly are putting together a second disaster relief bill and will reconvene this Thursday, October 24 in Raleigh to vote on it. Our policy staff will be following this closely and keep you updated.

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.

2024 Election

Early voting polling sites in NC are open and will be open daily through Saturday, November 2. Find your nearest early voting location at gov/voting/vote-early-person. A record 350K NC voters cast their ballots on the first day of early voting this year.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 5. If you plan to vote on election day, find your designated polling place for election day at NC Voter Search: ncsbe.gov/PPLkup/. You can also familiarize yourself with candidates and issues by viewing your sample ballot on this site.
We know of housing bonds on the ballot in Chapel Hill ($15M), Cary ($30M), Charlotte ($100M), and Asheville ($20M).
Don’t forget to bring your photo ID with you to vote! If you lost your photo ID due to Helene, you have options:

Fill out a Photo ID Exception Form at your voting site or send the form back with your absentee ballot. (A blank Exception Form will arrive with your absentee packet.) Check the box for “Exception 3: Victim of a Natural Disaster.” Make sure to sign the form.
Go to your county board of elections office. If you are a registered voter, they can take your photo and print an acceptable ID on the spot. For details, go to Get a Free Voter Photo ID.
Get a free ID from an NCDMV office in your area. For details, see https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/identification/Pages/default.aspx

Update from our Partners at NLIHC

NLIHC announced last week that their president and CEO Diane Yentel will be stepping down in January after 12 years with the organization. We’ll keep you posted once we learn what’s next for her and any updates we hear about the search for her successor.

State & Local Updates

Events

[webinar] FEMA Assistance for Nonprofits Info Session | Land of Sky Regional Council, Tuesday, October 22, 1-1:30 p.m.
- This brief info session will share basics to help nonprofits
  - Determine whether they’re eligible for FEMA aid
  - Take initial steps to support a FEMA application
  - Get free resources to navigate the FEMA aid process

Landlord/Tenant Forum | City of Charlotte, October 22 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Blue Cross NC Charlotte Center (2336 Freedom Drive, Suite C). Register atme/4eBCP9g.
- Don’t miss your chance to ask questions about your rights as a landlord or tenant during this forum hosted by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations. Representatives from Legal Aid, Code Enforcement, and other agencies will also be present.

The NLIHC-led Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition (DHRC) is launching a series of national calls – starting this Thursday, October 24 at 3 pm – to share critical information about the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Advocates nationwide are invited to join the national calls to learn more about the immediate response to the disaster, hear directly from advocates and community-based organizations on the ground, and find out how to help the lowest-income and most marginalized disaster survivors receive the assistance they need to fully and equitably recover. Register here!
[webinar] Housing and Homelessness in the Wake of Natural Disasters | National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), the National Homelessness Law Center (NHLC), and Southern Economic Advancement Project (SEAP). October 29, 12 p.m.
[webinar] The Decades Ahead: Projecting Household Growth and New Housing Demand in 2025–2045 | Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, November 1, 12:15 p.m.
HOPE NC 2024 Inclusive Housing Summit | November 4, 8 am – 4 pm at The Friday Center in Chapel Hill. Registration cost: $50 individual/$100 professional
[webinar] Preserving Homeownership and Wealth Creation by Addressing Heirs’ Property and Tangled Titles | National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), November 7, 2 -3 p.m.
[webinar] Preservation: An Essential Response to the Housing Affordability Challenge | Bipartisan Policy Center, November 19, 1 p.m.
Save the Date: National Low Income Housing Policy Forum March 24-27, 2025 in Washington, D.C.