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FEMA temporary units in Buncombe: 74 installed, 50 occupied; Renew NC single-family program opens
Summary
County staff reported 74 temporary manufactured units/travel trailers were placed after Helene; 50 are occupied and 26 households have been notified about purchase eligibility. Separately, the state'run Renew NC single-family program opened with CDBG-DR funds for owner-occupied home repairs.
Jonathan (housing staff) told the commissioners the county received 74 FEMA-installed temporary housing units (manufactured homes and travel trailers) for survivors whose homes were uninhabitable after the storm; the units can be provided for up to 18 months under emergency housing terms.
He said 50 of the 74 units are currently occupied: 11 on private property and 39 in commercial parks. FEMA has notified 26 survivor households of eligibility to purchase their occupied unit; 21 households have expressed interest and 18 have completed FEMA's interview process to review documentation and housing plans. Six households have received letters from FEMA indicating they can purchase the unit they occupy. Jonathan cautioned that purchases are limited: households may buy only the specific unit they occupy, and those units are sold 'as is, where is,' with buyers responsible for relocating, bringing units into compliance and paying associated costs.
He provided cost estimates survivors should expect: FEMA sale prices have ranged from about $4,000 to $23,000; transportation for moving a unit can run about $10,000, and connections/compliance work can add up to another $10,000. He noted survivors might combine FEMA housing repair grants (maximum $42,500), insurance proceeds, nonprofit help or county Home Repair Grant funds to cover costs. FEMA will provide a basic outreach letter to eligible households and may share contact information under an amended sharing agreement so county staff and nonprofits can assist households that choose to purchase.
Separately, Jonathan described the state'managed Renew NC single-family housing program (a Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery initiative) that opened applications. The program, funded by about $860,000,000 in CDBG-DR allocations across impacted counties, focuses on repairing or replacing owner-occupied single-family homes (both stick-built and manufactured). Eligibility requires that the damage was caused by Helene and that applicants were owner-occupants at the time of the storm, plus income qualification under HUD limits; priority will be given to households under 60% AMI and to seniors, children and households with a member with a disability.
Jonathan said the program will proceed in phases (including reimbursement options in Phase 3), contractors will be selected by the state, and homeowners awarded funds must remain in place for three years under a forgivable-loan/grant agreement. The application opened yesterday; applicants can apply at www.renewnc.org, via the Renew NC mobile app, by phone at (888) 791-0207, or at the Helene Resource Center (94 Cox Avenue).
Ending: Staff encouraged affected residents to apply and to preserve receipts if they seek reimbursement, and noted county staff will coordinate outreach with FEMA and state partners as applications proceed.
