Current Projects

$14 Million For 4 Communities.

Rebuilding Appalachia: A Long-Term Housing Project for Survivors of Hurricane Helene

The goal of this project is to build four small communities in four different regions along Western North Carolina. Each community will have up to ten houses, including one large main house designed to encourage interaction among residents. These communities are built with longevity, sustainability, and resilience in mind.

We are not building modular homes or anything temporary—we are building real homes that will stand for the next hundred years or more. The homes will be a mix of "big" tiny homes and cabins, built with tin roofs and designed with the growing fire risk in the area in mind. We will prioritize properties that already have defensible space or will create it ourselves, ensuring safety in the face of future disasters. Each home will have access to basic survival needs in case of an emergency, allowing for peace of mind and security.

Community first focus, creating exponential support.

The main house in each community will serve as a gathering space with a large kitchen, a communal dining area, and a comfortable living space. We will not be providing televisions, as we want to encourage people to truly live and engage with one another, rather than staring at a flickering wall. Instead, we'll have a fully stocked bookshelf and plenty of games, encouraging game nights over movie nights. The main house will also include laundry facilities for all residents.

We strongly believe in the power of community meals, where people come together to cook, eat, and connect. Healing doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens in shared spaces, through conversations, and the simple acts of living alongside others.

Prioritizing those who need a home most.

Our focus is on helping families, women with children, and those who have lost loved ones, ensuring that we are not just rebuilding homes, but also rebuilding community, emotionally and physically. Many of these survivors were already living on the edge before the hurricane hit. Those with savings and resources may have been able to leave, but for many, that was never an option. Instead, they have been surviving in tents, campers, and makeshift structures for far too long.

We will be providing weekly on-site group therapy and emotional support, ensuring that no one has to recover alone.

Sustainable living for a stable future.

Permaculture will be a key component of these communities. Many Appalachians already have experience with gardening and food production, and we will provide opportunities to expand on that knowledge in a way that is permanent, low-maintenance, and self-sustaining. Each community will incorporate solar panels, wells, and climate-sensitive building techniques to ensure resilience against future disasters.

One of the houses in each community will be used as an Airbnb rental, with revenue going directly back into maintaining the property. This ensures that the community is financially self-sustaining while also providing a job for one of the residents as a property manager. The income generated will cover maintenance costs—because things will break, and we want to ensure funds are available when they do.

We are committed to providing these homes rent-free for at least the first year. If and when we introduce rent, it will be minimal and affordable, never placing residents back into financial instability. This is long-term housing, not a stopgap solution.

Spring brings opportunities to pivot from fighting the elements and turn toward long-term solutions.

Winter has passed, and with spring here, we have to act fast. We have an ambitious timeframe to complete these communities before the next winter, ensuring that no one has to endure another season in the cold. Our plan is to begin construction as soon as we have 10% of our funding goal secured, giving us the necessary resources to get started immediately.

We are raising $14 million to build these four communities. This funding will allow us to build real homes, not temporary shelters, in regions that have been reduced to rubble.

You have the power to make a difference. We need both large financial donations and corporate sponsorships for things like washers, dryers, refrigerators, computers, and more. Your company or you personally can help by partnering with us or donating. You can help provide the essential supplies these homes need to become functional, safe, and stable.

To donate through our tax-deductible fiscal sponsor, email christina@appalachiaisforever.org to get in touch.

The KPI we care about is if people regain the will to live.

Success in this project is not measured by how many homes we build or how much revenue the Airbnb generates. Success is measured in a zero percent suicide rate in these homes, the laughter shared around community meals, the first steps of a child on safe ground, stick art proudly displayed on refrigerators, and lifelong friendships formed through mutual healing.

What happened in these mountains was a terrible, terrible thing. Our mission is to ensure that these survivors are not just housed, but truly home—surrounded by support, safety, and the opportunity to rebuild their lives. The increasing suicide rate is directly related not just to the trauma of the experience, but the lack of hope things will get better. You can help us give hope for the future back into the lives of vulnerable, deserving people and families.

The long-term vision: A rising tide lifts all boats.

We envision these communities as places where people can stay and thrive, or use them as a safe haven to heal before moving on to their next chapter. No one is obligated to stay, but for those who do, we want them to flourish.

We hope that the people who find stability in these homes will become conduits of positive change for those around them. A rising tide lifts all boats, and we believe that putting the effort into doing this right will serve as a model for future rebuild efforts—not just in Appalachia, but in disaster-stricken areas across the country and the world.

This nonprofit isn’t a big corporation with a mission. This is a mission that happens to be a nonprofit.

Join us in this mission. We only exist to help. The goal is simple: help Appalachia recover. And right now, that means you can help provide real, permanent, long-term housing for those who need it most.

Please consider a generous donation. This is more than just a housing project. This is a future for people who aren’t sure they still have one. You can be a part of this. In fact, we need you to be a part of this to make this dream come true.