September 24 marks one year since Hurricane Helene made landfall. CORE is still actively serving the families impacted by the storm—and remains deeply committed to helping them access safe, stable housing, especially as another intense hurricane season approaches.
Over the past year, CORE’s commitment to long-term recovery has not only deepened—it has expanded. What began as a focused effort in North Carolina has evolved into a broader, regional response. In light of ongoing needs and strong community demand, we’ve extended our programs into Georgia and are actively exploring further expansion across the Carolinas and Tennessee—bringing our community-driven, resilience-focused approach to every area we serve.
With your support, we are actively asking the GoFundMe community to help us hit our goal of raising $100,000 which will help us expand into Tennessee, where families urgently need safe housing. Thanks to the Carter County Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG), every dollar you give will be matched, doubling your impact and speeding recovery efforts.
Tennessee’s Urgent Need
- Our goal is to repair 23 mobile homes in Carter County. On average, elevating a single mobile home costs $10,000—an investment that brings safety and hope to a family facing disaster risks.
- Hurricane Helene caused severe flooding across eastern Tennessee, including Carter County and nearby communities. Counties impacted include Carter, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, Washington, Greene, and others.
- We have identified over 200 Mobile Homes that need repairs from Helene across all affected Tennessee Counties.
CORE’s Impact
CORE is a leader in disaster-resilient housing recovery, leveraging proven techniques like home hardening, fortified roofing, hazard mitigation, and resource navigation to address the unique needs of each community. By tailoring solutions to local hazards—whether hurricane-force winds, flooding, or wildfires—CORE bridges immediate relief with long-term resilience, helping families rebuild stronger and safer. Techniques such as elevating homes reduce future flood risks and break cycles of repeated destruction, providing greater safety and stability as climate threats intensify with each new hurricane season.
- North Carolina: When Hurricane Helene made landfall in September, CORE responded immediately by distributing emergency supplies, providing urgent home repairs, and guiding families through resource navigation. In December, we launched our long-term recovery initiative, which enabled 25 families to return home by March 2025. Building on this momentum, we formally established the Home Rebuild Program in western North Carolina in April—an ongoing effort focused on essential infrastructure repairs, protecting families from displacement, and providing the stability needed to rebuild their lives.
- Georgia: In August 2025, we began long-term recovery efforts in Valdosta County, focusing on 30 mobile homes in need of urgent roof repairs. Our team will apply fortified roofing techniques to minimize future damage and conduct property assessments to support hazard mitigation and strengthen community resilience.
About CORE
Founded after the 2010 Haiti earthquake by Sean Penn and Ann Lee, CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) is a global humanitarian organization based in Los Angeles that empowers underserved communities in and beyond crisis. CORE’s community-powered work is informed and fueled by local hands. With a focus on equity, CORE provides critical relief to marginalized and vulnerable people, from the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic and conflict in Ukraine, to hurricane-impacted states in the US and beyond. CORE’s hands-on approach ensures families receive both immediate and long-term support, from cash vouchers and protective resources to comprehensive case management to navigate the aid process as they work to rebuild. Learn more about CORE’s work at www.coreresponse.org.
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