Lowe’s gives tiny houses to hurricane victims to provide shelter while they rebuild their homes

Lowe’s tiny homes were built in rural North Carolina to provide temporary shelter for those who lost their homes during Hurricane Helene.

Designed for mobility, these homes can be relocated and repurposed, giving families a place to stay while they repair their primary residences.

As winter settled in, many families in Western North Carolina were still without proper housing after the devastating hurricane.

In response, Lowe’s and hundreds of volunteers donated and installed dozens of tiny homes just in time for the holidays.

These fully equipped units, featuring heating, a kitchen, a bathroom, and two beds, provided families with a safe and functional place to stay.

The effort also ensured residents could remain in their communities while rebuilding their permanent homes.

Lowe’s added a personal touch to its tiny homes by decorating them with seasonal greenery, furnishings, and décor.

Among those benefiting is Kathy Graham, a long-time resident of the Asheville area.

After floodwaters from Hurricane Helene receded, her home was left unlivable due to severe mold and a lack of heat.

Refusing to leave her pets behind, Kathy stayed in harsh conditions until she received her new temporary home, which brought her much-needed relief and gratitude.

“Thank God I got my new home—my ‘tiny home‘. It’s awesome. It’s gorgeous. I can’t believe it. I can’t even say how much I appreciate it. The Lord has answered my prayers, honestly. Answered my prayers.”

Kathy is one of the fortunate few who moved into a mobile tiny home just weeks after Hurricane Helene, thanks to the relentless efforts of Lowe’s employees and a dedicated team of builders.

The initiative began when Julie Yenichek, Lowe’s Senior Director of Community Relations, proposed an ambitious plan to Danny Kelly, co-owner of Kelly McArdle Construction in Charlotte.

Kelly saw it as the perfect opportunity to take on a large-scale project.

With a team of volunteers and an abundance of supplies provided by Lowe’s, the group quickly turned the vision into a reality, delivering much-needed shelter to those in need.

The initiative quickly gained momentum, starting with a prototype built in Danny’s backyard before operations shifted to a Charlotte warehouse.

An enthusiastic group of 400 volunteers worked together to construct 16 tiny homes, each measuring 8×16 feet, just in time for the holiday season.

Lowe’s amplified the effort by purchasing 50 additional homes from Incredible Tiny Homes, a well-known builder in Newport, Tennessee.

With these units added to the 16 locally constructed homes, 67 Lowe’s tiny homes were ready to shelter families.

Another 33 homes arrived by early January, underscoring Lowe’s dedication to helping those affected by Hurricane Helene rebuild their lives.

Amanda Hayes and Randy Jones, co-owners of Incredible Tiny Homes, witnessed the devastating floods that hit their East Tennessee community.

Despite the destruction, they found hope when Lowe’s reached out with a plan to help.

Lowe’s offered to fund the construction of additional tiny homes, which would be delivered to disaster-affected areas across the region.

One of the first of the Lowe’s tiny homes was delivered to a mother and her three children, and the impact was profoundly moving.

The families, devastated by the floods, remained determined to stay in their communities and protect their land.

“It just means everything. To provide housing for these people who have lost everything, this is the most special thing that we’ve ever done with Lowe’s,” Amanda said.

The Home Builders Association of Greater Charlotte led a volunteer effort to build mobile homes that provide comfortable living spaces for three to four people. Over 400 volunteers signed up in seven days to help with the project.

Skilled workers across the construction industry, including framers, roofers, plumbers, electricians, and local builders offering additional support, have all contributed their expertise and time.

Lowe’s has pledged $12 million to help recovery efforts after the devastating floods, aiming to deliver at least 100 fully built Lowe’s tiny homes to affected mountain communities as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has allocated $279 million in disaster relief, which includes funding for temporary housing like apartments or homes for more than 140,000 displaced households, according to local station WLOS-TV.

Despite these options, many residents remain deeply connected to their communities. They are hesitant to move, with some resorting to temporary shelters in FEMA-funded hotel rooms, tents, or sheds.

A broad coalition of organizations joined forces to support this effort. Habitat for Humanity contributed to the initiative, while NASCAR haulers transported the homes across the region.

Other key partners included BeLoved Asheville, the Appalachia Service Project, and SunCap Property Group, which provided warehouse space to help streamline construction.

Watch the inspiring moments as Lowe’s tiny homes are delivered to families in need in the videos below: