Helene Rental Assistance Fund
GCAA Hurricane Helene Rental Assistance Fund Expands Eligibility Criteria, Helps Rehouse Families
CHARLOTTE, NC – January 22, 2025—The Greater Charlotte Apartment Association (GCAA) Board of Directors approved expanding its private rental assistance fund for households displaced by Hurricane Helene.
The $250,000 fund, established in October 2024, allows rental housing providers to request financial assistance for individuals and families from Western North Carolina who lost their housing due to Hurricane Helene.
Under the new qualifications, owner-operators and third-party management companies who rehouse displaced households to properties within the affected area can also access the fund.
This includes but is not limited to Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey Counties.
The fund will still offer direct payments to rental housing owners and management companies who provide short- or long-term housing to relocating families.
The request submission portal will reopen on January 27. Payments will be made directly to the rental housing provider; only providers may submit requests. Those who have already rehoused individuals from the affected area and are unsure about their eligibility should contact info@greatercaa.org.
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Greater Charlotte Apartment Association Hurricane Helene Rental Assistance Fund · FAQ
WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR APPLYING FOR THIS ASSISTANCE?
- · Must be a GCAA owner-operator/property management company (PMC) member in good standing.
- · Must have extended temporary, long-term, or permanent housing to someone from Western NC displaced due to
Hurricane Helene (funds will only be approved for current residents; posted move-in, not ”future” or “applicant”
status). - · Member property must be located in these counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke,
Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon,
Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga,
Wilkes, and Yancey, NC and York, SC.
HOW MUCH CAN AN OWNER-OPERATOR/PMC APPLY FOR?
- · An owner-operator/PMC can request up to $3,000/per relocated household.
ARE THERE LIMITS ON HOW MUCH ASSISTANCE AN OWNER-OPERATOR/PMC CAN APPLY FOR?
- · There is no limit on the number of assistance applications an owner-operator/PMC can submit.
HOW DO I APPLY?
- · All applicants must complete this Google Form
- · Owner-operators/PMC must submit (1) application per relocated household.
- · Applicants will need the following information to complete the form:
- · Resident Name
- · Previous Address (PMC must verify that the address is a Western NC location affected by Hurricane Helene)
- · Name and address of PMC & property submitting the application
- · Move-in date and lease expiration date
- · First & last page of the lease
- · Copy of ledger showing current resident status
- · Amount of FEMA and/or insurance payments provided on behalf of the resident, if applicable
- · Amount of concessions/discounts provided by PMC or property to the resident, if applicable
WHAT IS THE APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS?
- · Applications will be reviewed in the order they are received (Only COMPLETE applications will be reviewed).
HOW WILL I KNOW IF MY APPLICATION HAS BEEN APPROVED?
- · Applicants will be notified of approval or denial within two weeks of a completed application submission.
HOW WILL THE PAYMENTS BE DISBURSED?
- · Payments will be made by either ACH funds transfer or paper check · ACH is preferred.
- · Payment preference will be requested on the application; however, ACH information will be requested once
application has been approved.
Management companies/properties can reach out to membersvcs@greatercaa.org
if they have questions about eligibility or anything else related to the fund.