Raleigh, NC – Governor Josh Stein announced that 14 nonprofit Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOADs) have received more than $9 million in grants for housing repair and reconstruction projects to support recovery efforts in western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene.
“More than a year has passed since Hurricane Helene, and we are fortunate that so many volunteer organizations have stepped up to help their neighbors in need,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Their tireless work is critical to our ongoing efforts to get western North Carolinians back in their homes.”
Emergency Management Director Will Ray emphasized the importance of volunteer partnerships in disaster recovery efforts. “Our volunteer organization partners are part of the State Emergency Response Team precisely because of their unwavering support of the 10.8 million people who call North Carolina home, including the 3.5 million people in the western region of our state,” Ray said. “We appreciate the legislature helping to support the operations of these crucial partners in the recovery process.”
Volunteer organizations actively engaged in repair and reconstruction work in Helene-impacted counties under the Federal Disaster Declaration were eligible to apply. The grants were made available through the North Carolina General Assembly’s passage of S.L. 2025-2. Lawmakers recently added an additional $18 million in funding to continue supporting these efforts, with another funding opportunity expected soon.
In January 2025, Governor Stein announced an additional $6 million in grants awarded to Baptists on Mission and Habitat for Humanity, which have since completed repairs on more than 500 homes using state funds.
The following organizations received awards through this round of funding:
All Hands All Hearts (AHAH) – $435,000 for its Resilient Repairs for Vulnerable Households project in Buncombe and Haywood counties, repairing or replacing roofs, doors, windows, plumbing, sewer, and electrical systems on 25 to 30 homes annually.
Ashe County Recovery & Restoration – $244,000 for repairs in Ashe County, including septic, roofing, and flooring work.
Appalachian Service Project – $700,000 for the WNC Helene Recovery project repairing homes in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties.
Avery County Amy Wellness Foundation – $100,000 for repairs in Avery County addressing structural, electrical, plumbing, weatherproofing, and access needs for 10 to 20 homes.
Baptists on Mission – $2.5 million for its Helene Rebuild program supporting numerous projects across western North Carolina.
Camp Grier – $250,000 for the Old Fort Strong Home Repair & Restoration Initiative to repair about 12 homes with the most critical needs.
Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders – $700,000 for the WNC Helene Repair and Reconstruction project in Buncombe, McDowell, and Yancey counties, including new home construction in Black Mountain.
Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity – $2 million for its Disaster Home Repairs for Hurricane Impacted Homeowners in WNC project in Buncombe and Madison counties.
Transylvania Habitat for Humanity – $280,000 for the Helene Home Elevation Project-MH Resilience Initiative to elevate 10 mobile homes impacted by flooding.
Henderson County Thermal Belt Habitat – $225,000 to complete eight critical home repairs in Henderson County.
Housing Assistance Corporation – $300,000 for its Disaster Home Repair program to repair at least 20 homes in Henderson, Polk, and Transylvania counties.
Operation Helo – $500,000 for its Restoring Roots & Rebuilding Lives program to repair 20 to 30 homes in the Maiden area.
FUMC Waynesville – $850,000 for its Rebuild Haywood program to repair and replace homes in the Waynesville area.
Western NC Conference of United Methodist Church – $300,000 to repair and replace homes in the highest-impacted counties of western North Carolina.
