**Asheville Residents Struggle with Housing After Tropical Storm Helene**
ASHEVILLE – Kevin Moreland, 63, has learned firsthand the challenges of navigating the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene.
Since October 16, Moreland has been living at the Sleep Inn in West Asheville through FEMA assistance after trees crashed through the roof of his rented home in Clyde. Over time, his hotel room has become a makeshift home, furnished with a reclining chair for his back, a small fridge stocked with vegetables and meats, and personal belongings scattered throughout. Though his TSA voucher was extended until March, he planned to leave in early February after months of searching for a permanent place to live.
### Thousands Leave FEMA Hotels
The start of 2025 saw a significant decrease in the number of people staying in FEMA-funded hotel rooms across Western North Carolina. At the beginning of January, over 5,700 households were in the program. By January 16, that number had dropped to around 3,000, and by February 4, only 762 households remained, according to data presented at a Buncombe County Commission briefing.
Of those still in the program, 585 households were in Buncombe County. However, 108 of them were scheduled to check out by February 8 after being deemed ineligible by FEMA.
### Shift to Rental Assistance
FEMA representative Bob Spence noted that while hotel stays have declined, rental assistance has increased, indicating that many displaced residents are transitioning into permanent housing. Since the storm, FEMA has provided nearly $2.5 million in rental assistance in Buncombe County and over $107 million in total aid, including $21 million for anti-displacement efforts.
FEMA Individual Assistance Branch Director Ina Chan acknowledged that some people are avoiding contact with the agency, likely because they know they are no longer eligible for assistance. The TSA program is set to continue until May 26 for those who still qualify.
### Struggles to Find Housing
Moreland faced difficulties securing housing due to his past. A series of poor decisions in the early 2000s led to jail time, and despite being nonviolent, his record has caused housing agencies and nonprofits to reject his applications.
“I understand they don’t want trouble in their communities,” Moreland said. “But I’m not trouble. I made a mistake when I was younger, and I paid the price.”
In early February, he finally found a solution: a camper donated by a local nonprofit. He plans to move it to a lot near the South Carolina border, where housing is more affordable. However, not everyone has been as fortunate.
### A Community Effort to Help Those in Need
Randy Billiot, another displaced resident, had been staying at the Sleep Inn under the TSA program after being evicted from his Candler apartment in November. A former trucker, Billiot was injured in a fall in 2019, leaving him unable to work and reliant on a walker.
Though the hotel provided temporary shelter, FEMA stopped covering his stay on January 13. With no immediate housing options, Billiot relied on the generosity of strangers and neighbors, including Moreland, who paid for a night’s stay out of his own pocket.
Margaret LaFave, another hotel resident, posted on Facebook asking for help, and a kind stranger covered two nights for Billiot.
Despite these efforts, Billiot struggled to find a long-term solution. He and Moreland considered becoming roommates, but high rental prices in the area made it difficult. Both men rely on disability benefits, limiting their options.
“If you left the hotel, you couldn’t do a tent,” Moreland told Billiot, acknowledging his health challenges. By February 5, Billiot had been taken to the hospital, leaving Moreland frustrated with the system.
“Some people got moved into a house. Some people into the hospital. And some onto the street,” Moreland said.
### FEMA Eligibility Requirements
FEMA determines eligibility for the TSA program based on inspections of homes damaged by Helene. The program has been extended through May 26 at the request of Governor Josh Stein.
Individuals may be deemed ineligible if:
– Their home was inspected and found to have no eligible damage.
– Their home is now considered habitable.
– FEMA has been unable to reach them after multiple attempts.
– They missed multiple home inspections.
– They withdrew from FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.
– They were homeless before the disaster.
### The Ongoing Housing Crisis
While many displaced residents have returned to safe homes, others have been left without clear options. Some have moved into permanent housing, others have been hospitalized, and some remain without shelter. As the TSA program winds down, many continue to struggle with finding affordable housing in Asheville and surrounding areas.
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*Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Have a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com. Support local journalism by subscribing to the Citizen Times.*
Source: citizen-times.com