HUD provides much needed Hurricane Matthew Housing Disaster Support in North Carolina

HUD Disaster Assistance Team working to assist survivors at the Robeson County Fairgrounds Transitional Shelter with Red Cross volunteer far right

Lumberton NC public housing development devastated by flooding after Hurricane Matthew

HUD Region IV provides much needed housing disaster support services for survivors in North Carolina as fifteen team members from North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee field offices voluntarily deployed recently in support of Hurricane Matthew's damaging aftermath working in the Joint Field Office, Disaster Recovery Centers and transitional housing shelters in the most impacted areas of the state.

"The recovery process is underway and the HUD disaster team in NC is making a difference for survivors needing housing assistance while working closely with FEMA, SBA, state and local government and community organizations," said Ed Jennings, Jr. Region IV Administrator.

"Helping the survivors of Hurricane Matthew find housing remains our number one goal," said Ed Ellis HUD Joint Field Office Director for the disaster relief effort.

Earlier this month, state officials had estimated the flooding has caused $1.5 billion in damage to 100,000 homes, business and government buildings.

President Obama issued a disaster declaration in several impacted counties in North Carolina on Oct 11, 2016 which allows HUD to offer foreclosure relief and other assistance to certain families.

HUD is:

• Assisting the affected states and local governments in re-allocating existing federal resources toward disaster relief (https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/cdbg-dr/) - HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME programs give the State and communities the flexibility to redirect millions of dollars in annual formula funding to address critical needs, including housing and services for disaster victims. HUD is currently contacting State and local officials to explore streamlining the Department's CDBG and HOME programs in order to expedite the repair and replacement of damaged housing;
  
  
• Granting immediate foreclosure relief - HUD granted a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures and forbearance on foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured home mortgages;
  
  
• Making mortgage insurance available - HUD's Section 203(h) Program allows the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to insure mortgages made by qualified lenders to victims of a major disaster who have lost their homes and are in the process of rebuilding or buying another home. Individuals are eligible for this program if their homes are located in an area that was designated by the President as a disaster area and if their homes were destroyed or damaged to such an extent that reconstruction or replacement is necessary;
  
  
• Making insurance available for both mortgages and home rehabilitation - HUD's Section 203(k) loan program enables those who have lost their homes to finance the purchase or refinance of a house along with its repair through a single mortgage. It also allows homeowners who have damaged houses to finance the rehabilitation of their existing single-family home; and
  
  
• Offering Section 108 loan guarantee assistance (https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/section-108/) - HUD will offer state and local governments federally guaranteed loans for housing rehabilitation, economic development and repair of public infrastructure.
  
  
• Information on housing providers and HUD programs - The Department will share information with FEMA and the State on housing providers that may have available units in the impacted counties. This includes Public Housing Agencies and Multi-Family owners. The Department will also connect FEMA and the State to subject matter experts to provide information on HUD programs and providers.

Read about these and other HUD programs designed to assist disaster victims on HUD's website.

Individuals affected by Hurricane Matthew are also encouraged to register online at DisasterAssistance.gov (http://disasterassistance.gov/), download the FEMA app, or call 800-621-3362 for voice, 711, Video Relay Service, or other relay service. Survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or who have difficulty speaking and use a TTY, should call 800-462-7585 directly.

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