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DSS seeks state hurricane relief funds to repair or replace veteran’s unsafe home; county extends RFP deadline
Summary
Burke County Department of Social Services requested use of state 'adult essential services' hurricane relief funds to replace or repair a severely damaged private home occupied by a 64‑year‑old veteran; staff said the state encouraged spending and the county extended the contractor RFP deadline to May 9 after receiving one bid.
Department of Social Services staff asked commissioners to approve use of state‑provided adult essential services funds — a one‑time allotment tied to Hurricane Helene relief — to repair or replace a private dwelling occupied by a 64‑year‑old veteran, Mr. Williams, whose house was judged beyond reasonable repair.
Brett Porter, social work supervisor, said the state allocated $131,444 to Burke County for adult services after the Sept. 28 storm and that the state had encouraged counties to spend the funds across four eligible adult‑service codes (including Adult Protective Services evaluations, adult services planning/mobilization, guardianship and contracted guardianships).
Porter and Tiffany Braden, the DSS social worker assigned to Mr. Williams, described his situation: after the storm a power surge and structural deterioration left the house unsafe, with sagging exterior walls, tilted water heater and multiple falls through the floor. The VA had exhausted housing options and Mr. Williams was living in a donated towable camper that relies on costly small‑propane tanks for heat and hot water. DSS said appliances and HVAC could not be replaced until the structure was stabilized and that local contractor capacity is limited.
Braden asked the board to allow the department to use available adult essential‑services funds for the remediation or replacement needed to keep Mr. Williams housed and safe. She said the county had already used funds for a range of responses since the storm and that the state had urged counties to spend these particular adult funds because they are uncommon in the adult‑services budget.
Porter said procurement for the work had produced a single bid; the county extended the solicitation deadline by 10 days to May 9, 2025, to encourage additional bidders. Commissioners agreed to move the item to the consent agenda for the regular meeting rather than vote during the pre‑agenda session.
Why it matters: The request illustrates an uncommon funding stream for adult services tied to disaster relief and shows how local DSS navigates housing, contractor availability and procurement rules when immediate repairs are needed for medically vulnerable residents.
What’s next: The RFP deadline was extended to May 9, staff will review bids and the item will appear on the regular meeting consent agenda for formal approval.
