The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Sunday evening that it will extend its Temporary Sheltering Assistance Program — that pays for hotel and motel rooms — until May 26.
The move comes after the agency received criticism earlier this month from nonprofits and politicians when FEMA initially announced that thousands who were found ineligible would be forced to check out of hotel rooms on Jan. 11, during a winter storm.
After the backlash, the agency ultimately extended the deadline for people found ineligible until Jan. 25. For those still eligible — 2,763 according to the agency — the new date for the program to end was March 27.
Gov. Josh Stein sent a letter to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell on Jan. 16, urging the agency to extend the deadline until September.
On Jan. 17, Republican House Rep. Chuck Edwards announced that FEMA "promised a 21-day notice for all Helene victims asked to leave their hotel."
In a Sunday evening response to Stein's letter, the agency wrote:
"Based on your request and because of the severity of event, including winter weather affecting road closures, FEMA approves an additional 60 days to allow individuals and families more time to find alternative housing options."
The governor's office provided the letter in a press release but FEMA has not responded to a request for confirmation from BPR News.
Stein celebrated the decision in an announcement on the same day.
“Today’s decision will help eligible disaster survivors stay safe and sheltered as we continue the hard work of rebuilding in western North Carolina," Stein said in a press release.
“My team and I continue to pursue solutions to cut red tape and get people into housing faster, including our temporary travel trailer program. I will continue to work with local, state, and federal partners to do right by our neighbors in western North Carolina and keep working until every survivor has returned home.”
The move from FEMA comes on the eve of President Donald Trump's inauguration. Trump criticized the agency during a visit to North Carolina following the storm. It is unclear what the new administration's plans are for FEMA.
During Trump's 'victory rally' on Sunday night he said the Biden administration "could not care for its citizens in a time of emergency" and called out a number of the administration's policies including the response to the Palisades Wildfire and Hurricane Helene.
Trump said he wanted to pay his "respects to the great people of North Carolina."
"They have been treated very badly. FEMA almost didn't know that it existed," Trump said. "We are going to get North Carolina rockin' and rollin', okay?"
In November, FEMA has approved over $400 million for North Carolina.
Read the full letter shared by Gov. Stein's office: