North Carolina Governor Josh Stein announced late last month that three nonprofits will receive $550k in grants from the state to help prepare houses damaged by Hurricane Helene for winter this year, as well as winterize campers, trailers, and other temporary housing for those who were displaced by last fall’s storm.
The nonprofits – Rebuild Haywood, the Western North Carolina Conference of United Methodist Churches, and The Beacon Network – will focus on projects such as installing insulation, wrapping windows, and repairing roofs on homes damaged by the storm.
“As families continue to recover from Hurricane Helene, winter weather can bring additional hardships,” said Gov. Stein. “We’re proud to support these organizations as they work to keep families warm this winter.”
Jared Dubin, who runs The Beacon Network, a nonprofit based in Yancey County, said more than 80 people have requested services from his nonprofit, like making repairs and adding insulation to their mobile homes.
The requested repairs and construction can cost anywhere from $800 to $1,200 per mobile home, Dubin said. With the $25,000 granted from the Stein administration, Dubin estimates he can get about 25 campers ready for cold weather.
Linnea Van Manen, a case manager and grant specialist at Rebuild Haywood, noted that the grant they received will allow the organization to provide critical winterization of homes and temporary shelters to families across western North Carolina.
“This funding will allow us to ensure these community members stay safe and keep the cold out throughout this season. We are incredibly grateful to the Stein Administration for recognizing the need in our community and providing us with the opportunity to make this possible,” Van Manen said.
