The N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency Public Housing Restoration Fund has awarded $14.5 million to four state public housing agencies to finance projects that will aid in meeting critical public housing needs in eastern North Carolina. 

Within Greater Fayetteville Business Journal’s coverage area, recipients of Public Housing Restoration Fund awards were:

• Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority, awarded $636,454 
• Housing Authority of the City of Lumberton, awarded $5,000,000

The purpose of the Public Housing Restoration Fund awards is to increase the availability of safe, affordable public housing units in areas of the state that were heavily devastated in 2016 and 2018 by hurricanes Matthew and Florence. Public housing authority recipients will repair or replace damaged rental units or build new ones in safer locations with a lower risk of flooding. 

The 16 counties that suffered the most damage across North Carolina were deemed eligible to apply for funds. 

Public housing projects located in the 16 North Carolina counties federally identified as “most impacted and distressed” due to destruction from hurricanes Matthew and Florence were invited to apply for funds. Projects with unoccupied units and/or residents displaced due to storm damage were prioritized. The funding application window opened May 31 and closed Aug. 1. 

The Public Housing Restoration Fund Program is supported by North Carolina’s HUD Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery funding for hurricanes Matthew and Florence.