An internal review of the FEMA's Transitional Sheltering Assistance program — which pays for hotel rooms for Hurricane Helene survivors — found that more than half of the families in the program are ineligible and must check out by Jan. 11.
According to FEMA, of the more than 5,700 households staying in hotel rooms paid for by the agency across Western North Carolina, 3,500 are ineligible.
The move — which threatens to displace thousands of families — comes as Western North Carolina is expecting severe winter weather starting Friday. Those affected were notified on Jan. 3. People who received an ineligibility notification and still need housing assistance should immediately call the helpline at 1-800-621-3362.
FEMA says the reasons a person might be ineligible for ongoing hotel assistance include:
- Their home is considered habitable.
- They declined an inspection of their residence to verify it was damaged.
- FEMA has been unable to contact the applicant to update their housing needs, despite multiple attempts.
FEMA said representatives have tried to contact people as many as eight times before labeling them ineligible.
"It’s important for survivors to keep in touch with FEMA, provide regular updates on housing status and update contact information so their recovery process is not delayed," FEMA spokesperson wrote in an email to BPR.
Peggy Hairston was living in a hotel through the FEMA program until Hope For Crisis — a nonprofit — donated a camper for her and her husband to live in just before Christmas. She installed it in her yard, along with power, water and sewer infrastructure.
Hairston, who lives in Henderson County and was staying in an Asheville hotel, then got the Jan. 3 call from FEMA. She was told she was eligible for a mobile housing unit at an RV park but declined since she already had the donated camper on her property.
Now all she has to do is return to the hotel room and clean out her things.
FEMA did not respond by deadline to questions from BPR about whether it is considering changing the Jan. 11 check-out date until after the severe weather passes.
Buncombe County officials have partnered with the Red Cross to open additional shelters if needed.
"If we need to open additional shelters due to widespread power outages we would work with the Red Cross to get those open in the county for individuals who need sheltering assistance due to this winter storm," Lillian Govus. "If you are someone who has been impacted by Hurricane Helene and your home is not inhabitable, going through FEMA is the right way to go."
According to FEMA, the next eligibility review for ongoing hotel stays is scheduled for Jan. 17. Households that are found ineligible will be notified then that they will need to check out by Jan. 25, 2025.
