Stronger Together: Regional Housing Recovery After Helene

HBA: Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains

Category: Government Affairs

Location: Asheville, N.C.

Size: 601+ members

Year: 2024

Following Hurricane Helene, the Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains (BABRM) led a multi-county effort to host regional housing forums to connect residents with FEMA, local governments, emergency response agencies and licensed contractors. The goal was to provide clear information on rebuilding processes, permitting, flood mitigation and financial aid, while helping residents avoid contractor fraud and navigate recovery with confidence. The forums drew strong community participation, with more than 100 attendees at the Hendersonville County event alone.

Through face-to-face engagement, the initiative empowered residents with clearer paths to recovery, strengthened relationships between the building industry and government agencies, and built trust between the community and emergency response organizations. BABRM’s leadership ensured faster, safer and more resilient housing recovery, establishing a model for coordinated disaster response through public-private collaboration.