HICKORY, N.C. – FEMA is reaching out to survivors of Tropical Storm Helene who are staying in hotels through the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program to assess their ongoing need for temporary housing support.
The TSA program provides short-term shelter by covering hotel costs for homeowners and renters displaced by the storm while they work toward permanent housing solutions or home repairs. To date, nearly 13,000 households in Western North Carolina have utilized this assistance.
Program Updates and Eligibility
FEMA reviews eligibility for the program every two weeks to ensure the available resources are used effectively. These reviews help identify those still in need and confirm the ongoing necessity of assistance.
“I want to be clear, this program is not ending for Western North Carolina,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Brett Howard. “The length of eligibility for an individual survivor depends on their specific circumstances. FEMA staff are working daily with survivors to help them find permanent housing solutions.”
To provide more flexibility, FEMA has extended the notice period for ineligible households from seven days to three weeks. Conditions that could result in ineligibility include:
- Home inspections revealing no storm-related damage or confirming a home is now habitable.
- Inability to reach the survivor after multiple attempts.
- Withdrawal from FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.
- Being unhoused prior to the disaster.
Of the 2,700 households currently in the program, approximately 740 are no longer eligible. FEMA is actively contacting these households to inform them and assist with their transition.
Continued Support for Survivors
FEMA encourages survivors who believe they still need assistance to contact the helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or visit the Disaster Recovery Center in Caldwell County, located at 2345 Morganton Boulevard, Lenoir, NC. No appointment is necessary.
To date, FEMA has distributed more than $316 million in cash grants to Western North Carolina survivors, including $6.2 million for rental assistance. Additionally, the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved over $213 million in low-interest loans, offering 0% interest for the first year.
Federal and state agencies, along with volunteer organizations, continue to collaborate on recovery efforts to help families rebuild and recover from the impacts of Tropical Storm Helene.
For more information on disaster recovery resources, visit fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and your ZIP code to 43362.
