MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. — Families in western North Carolina say they are being forced to vacate homes provided by FEMA after storm Helene struck in 2024. Many residents have received abrupt eviction notices, including one woman who must leave her temporary housing by 1 p.m. Tuesday.
[ ALSO READ: NC Attorney General wins $17M case against FEMA, Homeland Security ]
The direct housing assistance program from FEMA offers rent-free housing for 18 months after the storm. However, residents like Ginger Hall, who has been living at the Old Fort RV park since her camper was destroyed, have been notified they must move out earlier than anticipated. Hall has documentation stating she could remain at the home in McDowell County until March 29.
“I’ve got until one o’clock tomorrow to be out and if I’m not out by one o’clock tomorrow, they’re going to charge me $3,000 a month to live here, and I can’t afford $3,000 a month,” she said. “I don’t have no income.”
Kelli Hart, another resident at the RV park, mentioned that FEMA representatives conduct inspections every two weeks, informing families of impending move-out dates.
She said FMA is coming Tuesday to do a recertification of her home where she’ll find out if she can stay longer.
It didn’t go well during her last visit.
“They had the police out there,” she said. “They were banging on my windows and all kinds of stuff. And they handed these papers that just said you have to be out.”
FEMA officials said the temporary housing assistance program provides rent-free housing to storm survivors for up to 18 months after a storm. Part of the program allows FEMA to sell the mobile homes and campers at steep discounts and we could see on Monday where several of the homes have already been moved out.
But residents said they are required to pay to have them relocated which can be cost between $8,000 and $10,000. Hart wishes FEMA would be more understanding for those still looking for a place to live.
“Some of us don’t have any income,” Hart said. Some of us don’t have any family, and we don’t have any transportation, and it’s hard to look for places.”
Channel 9 checked and found out the homes not sold there to storm survivors are repossessed by FEMA and later sold at a government auction.
The exact number of families facing early eviction from FEMA housing remains unclear.
FEMA’s program has reportedly assisted more than 240 families since the storm. Some residents noted that, while many have been able to purchase homes at steep discounts, others are still in unstable housing situations.
VIDEO: FEMA allocates $3.4M to rebuild Avery County Senior Center
This browser does not support the video element.