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FEMA reports steady shift from hotel sheltering to rental and direct housing in Asheville
Summary
FEMA told council that millions in individual assistance has been paid, rental assistance is increasing while hotel shelter counts decline, direct housing licensing is ongoing, and the FEMA registration deadline was extended to March 8.
FEMA representatives updated the Asheville City Council on Feb. 6, reporting ongoing individual assistance disbursements, progress on direct housing placements and an extension of the FEMA registration deadline to March 8.
Bob Spence, FEMA liaison for Asheville and Buncombe County, said about $48 million in FEMA individual assistance has been distributed to roughly 31,000 city residents since the storm. Spence said FEMA has referred approximately 925 households for direct housing assistance and that 58 people have been “licensed” into a direct housing unit — the point at which applicants receive keys — with about 95 additional people actively being placed.
“On average right now probably licensing 1 to 2 units in a day,” Spence said, noting inspections and utility tie-ins were delaying some placements. He said the county and state casework, and local partners, have helped convert many hotel occupants to rental assistance: the city’s rental assistance caseload stood at 928 and Transitional Shelter Assistance (hotel) counts were 384; Buncombe County’s TSA figure was 642.
Todd Hoose, FEMA external affairs, described outreach to hotel residents at risk of losing temporary shelter if they do not respond to FEMA contact attempts, and urged anyone with questions about their case to visit a Disaster Recovery Center. “The biggest travesty would be those individuals who don't reach out to us who are eligible for additional assistance,” Hoose said, adding FEMA has engaged in on-site hotel outreach and has coordinated with state and local disaster case-management teams.
FEMA also said it has two currently open Disaster Recovery Centers in the area — in Weaverville and Fairview — and that a larger regional center on the A-B Tech downtown campus is being procured and will be announced when contracts for facility services are completed. Spence and Hoose reminded council that the registration deadline initially set for Feb. 8 has been extended by 30 days to March 8, and encouraged residents with unmet needs to register now and update their case records.
Council members asked for clarity about landlord engagement and the direct-lease program. Spence said the original estimate of 925 potential direct-lease households reflected higher early need; current counts show about 95 households need direct leasing at present because many applicants have obtained other solutions or rental assistance. FEMA officials and staff agreed to work with city and nonprofit partners to improve outreach to applicants who have not responded to FEMA calls and to publicize the incoming AB Tech Disaster Recovery Center when contracts are finalized.
