WNC needs an immediate eviction/foreclosure moratorium for 90 days and adequate rental assistance from the state of North Carolina. The letter below has been signed by elected officials, clergy, business and nonprofit leaders and concerned individuals from across the region. You can read the open letter below and sign on here.
Dear Governor Cooper, Council of State Members, Chief Justice Newby, and Esteemed Members of the North Carolina General Assembly,
We, the undersigned elected officials, faith leaders, business representatives, community organizers, and concerned citizens of western North Carolina, are writing to urgently request your immediate intervention in the form of an eviction moratorium and substantial additional rental assistance for our region, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.
Hurricane Helene was the most catastrophic hurricane in North Carolina’s history, leaving in its wake widespread destruction across our region. Over 126,000 homes in western North Carolina were damaged, and countless businesses and essential services were destroyed or disrupted. Schools, childcare centers, and businesses were forced to close for weeks, leaving many of our residents without income or stable housing. As a result, thousands are now at risk of eviction. Many are unable to pay their rent for November and beyond, and are still waiting for much-needed rental assistance from state and federal programs.
Despite the severe financial hardship faced by so many, the North Carolina General Assembly’s October relief bill allocated only $1 million for rental assistance in our region—an amount that would cover rent for just 297 households while 158,000 households have applied for federal assistance. This amount is grossly insufficient given the scale of the disaster and the pressing needs of our residents.
Further compounding this crisis is the fact that local and state rental assistance programs are not yet fully operational. While efforts to provide support are underway, delays in accessing funds are leaving residents vulnerable to eviction at a time when they are already struggling to rebuild their lives. Many are turning to mutual aid networks and faith-based organizations, but these resources are stretched thin and are only able to provide limited support. This crisis cannot be addressed piecemeal.
We urgently request that the state take immediate action to prevent further displacement and economic harm by enacting an eviction moratorium for all of western North Carolina. Specifically, we call on either Chief Justice Newby or Governor Cooper, with the approval of the Council of State, to issue an eviction moratorium that will protect tenants from eviction due to nonpayment of rent until sufficient rental assistance funds are available and operational.
We also implore the General Assembly to allocate more robust rental assistance for our region in the next relief bill. The $25 million in rental assistance recommended by Governor Cooper must be expanded and expedited to meet the needs of the thousands of people who are at risk of losing their homes and contributing to the further destabilization of our local economy.
Without immediate action, we face not only further displacement but a long-term economic disaster. Our communities’ ability to recover from this unprecedented storm will be severely undermined if we fail to protect our residents from eviction. Displaced tenants will have nowhere to go in a housing market already stretched thin, further straining our already burdened businesses, schools, and essential services.
We cannot afford to wait any longer. With November rent due and eviction filings already underway, our communities are in dire need of relief. We urge you to act swiftly to prevent evictions and ensure that rental assistance is accessible to those who need it most. Western North Carolina is counting on your leadership to help us weather this storm and build a path toward recovery.
Thank you for your immediate attention to this urgent matter. We stand ready to support you in this endeavor and are committed to working together to secure the well-being and stability of our neighbors.
Sign on to the letter here and see the full list of signers here.
