(July 21, 2026) The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina distributed six grants totaling $1,480,000 to nonprofits working to repair homes damaged by Hurricane Helene. With these awards, the total amount awarded from the Emergency and Disaster Response Fund (EDRF) since October 7, 2024, is $41,138,850.
“Helene damaged and destroyed homes across the region,” said President & CEO Elizabeth Brazas. “These organizations have a track record of successfully supporting people in difficult circumstances with home repairs. Almost two years later, many WNC residents still live in temporary, unhealthy, or unsafe housing due to the storm. With significant on-going needs, we are targeting home repair with additional awards in the most severely impacted counties.”
$540,000 to Baptists on Mission serving Avery, Mitchell, Yancey, McDowell, and Buncombe counties.
$440,000 to Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity as fiscal sponsor for ARCHR (Asheville Regional Coalition for Home Repair) serving Buncombe and Madison counties.
$200,000 to Housing Assistance Corporation serving Henderson, Transylvania, and Polk counties.
$100,000 to Mountain Projects serving Haywood and Jackson counties.
$100,000 to Rutherford Housing Partnership serving Rutherford and Polk counties.
$100,000 to Transylvania Habitat for Humanity serving Transylvania County.
“Rutherford Housing Partnership continues to repair homes damaged by Hurricane Helene in Rutherford and Polk Counties,” said Michael Lewis, Executive Director. “Currently, five home repair projects are in process, and we have 41 households on our waiting list for assistance. The ongoing need for home repair assistance remains significant. We anticipate that recovery efforts will continue for the foreseeable future.”
With these grants, CFWNC has expended more than $41 million in funds donated to its Emergency and Disaster Response Fund. Generous contributions from regional funders, private foundations, people in every state, and dozens of fundraisers made a quick and nimble response possible and enabled CFWNC to support recovery efforts at every stage, beginning days after the storm and resulting in more than 530 grants across the region.
Bringing people together to address regional issues or crises is a key role of community foundations. Detailed information is available.
The North Carolina Community Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund continues to support long-term Helene recovery and to address unmet needs. Nonprofits can register on the website to receive notification of upcoming opportunities to apply.