In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s destructive tear through Western North Carolina, hundreds of individuals and families in towns across the region saw their homes either severely damaged or destroyed, leaving them with nowhere to live. In response, the grassroots organization NC STR Alliance is offering a free service to help connect people displaced by the storm with short-term rental hosts who have available accommodations.
Working toward safe temporary shelter
NC STR Alliance – made up of Western N.C. property managers, homeowners and community members advocating for responsible and fair short-term rental regulations – hopes that by offering this service to match displaced individuals and families with temporary housing options, many can find safe temporary shelter and a sense of community during an extremely challenging time.
“We’ve had a very good reception from willing short-term rental owners, so that’s been incredible,” says STR Alliance’s Matt Allen. So far, around 120 hosts have added their properties to the relief program, with around 30 displaced residents signing up for temporary housing. “We are still trying to get the word out to more guests, and definitely looking to make more connections,” says Allen.
Easy process for hosts and renters
NC STR Alliance encourages STR owners, Airbnb hosts, property managers or anyone with an available home or room in Asheville or Western N.C. to participate in the emergency relief program. Here’s how it works: Hosts start by filling out a short form with contact information and availability; they are then added to the host list. In turn, a displaced individual seeking housing can simply complete a form with contact details, housing preferences and budget (FEMA vouchers don’t apply to the STR Alliance program). The information supplied by the displaced individual will then be shared with available hosts participating in the program, who can then reach out directly if they are able to accommodate the individual’s needs. Hosts are responsible for vetting inquiries and making decisions regarding accommodations.
For more information about the NC STR Alliance Hurricane Helene Relief program, or to sign up to become a potential host or renter, visit https://str-trust.com/nc-str-alliance-hurricane-helene-relief-for-displaced-residents/.
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