The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is offering $3 million through its Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing (RUSH) program to offer aid to North Carolina residents who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness after Hurricane Helene.

“While we are still assessing the full impact of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, we know the breadth of destruction warrants immediate funding to supplement emergency assistance for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness,” HUD acting Secretary Adrianne Todman said in a release. “HUD is committed to working with state and local leaders in North Carolina, during their long road of recovery ahead.”

While the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the American Red Cross and local community members have stepped up to assist survivors, the severity of the damage and displacement experienced in the North Carolina has exceeded local capacity and more assistance is needed, HUD stated. RUSH funding is intended to address the immediate unmet needs for homelessness assistance and homelessness prevention in declared disaster areas.

RUSH funds can be applied to:

• Emergency shelter, as well as rapid re-housing, which provides up to 24 months of rental assistance, financial assistance for move-in costs and supportive services for those experiencing homelessness before the disaster.
• For people who were at risk of experiencing homelessness before the disaster: homelessness prevention, which provides up to 24 months of rental assistance, utility assistance, and supportive services for people at risk of homelessness, as well as outreach assistance.

HUD explained that RUSH funding provides rapid assistance under the Emergency Solutions Grant program for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness in eligible declared disaster areas where FEMA has activated transitional sheltering assistance. This funding is available to help communities provide outreach, emergency shelter, rapid re-housing, homelessness prevention assistance, and supportive services.

HUD also launched a new streamlined process for requesting additional flexibility on existing grants after a disaster is declared, the agency stated. Beginning July 1, recipients of annual HUD funding may request waivers to unlock and accelerate the use of their funding for disaster response and recovery. With the updated waiver process, HUD stated it is attempting to proactively issue maximum flexibility to communities impacted by disasters. These flexibilities will expedite the recovery process, reduce administrative burden, and allow impacted jurisdictions to quickly tailor programs and activities to address the post disaster needs of impacted communities.

“We have heard loud and clear – every day counts when states, localities, and non-profits are working to get people safely housed,” Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Marion McFadden for Community Planning and Development said. “Our new waiver process will cut weeks off the time needed for communities to address urgent recovery needs in the wake of disasters.”