Policy & Advocacy
Leveraging numbers, diversity, and community to influence decision makers
“It is getting harder and harder each time we come to Raleigh to hear the words, Don't worry, we're just getting started. I'm sure it is even harder for our friends, family, and partners from the East who've been waiting much longer….”
Sam Stites, Just Economics of Western North Carolina (Transylvania County)
“Our local counties need to be offered the support to make those decisions autonomously to best meet the needs of their communities as they know them.”
Amber Dixon, Director of Community Health Initiatives, Western Youth Network (Watauga County)
“The $1 million that [the General Assembly] granted for rental assistance was tremendous, but it only helped a small group. And individuals are still in need of help, and they don't know where to go…”
Elisa Quarles, Asheville resident and Helene survivor (Buncombe County)
A COLLABORATIVE CALL FOR ACTION
Investing in a Just Recovery:
One Year Since Helene, Too Long for Eastern NC.
September 2025
We’ve seen heroic efforts by neighbors, volunteers, community-based organizations, philanthropy, and local and state public servants. But billions more in federal and state reimbursements and investments are needed to ensure a #JustRecovery for everyone, everywhere. Members of the North Carolina Inclusive Disaster Recovery Network weigh in on what it will take in our collaborative call for action at the one-year mark since Tropical System Helene.
Click to ReadPRESS EVENT
WNC Recovery, ENC Resilience
June 9, 2025 | NC General Assembly
We had two dozen people with us in Raleigh and nearly 100 listening in on Zoom. In case you missed it though, here's the recording of our first ever press event at the North Carolina Legislative Building.
Observa y escucha en español. Both videos include ASL interpretation and auto-generated captioning. Both videos include ASL interpretation and auto-generated captioning.
REPORT
From Crisis to Capacity:
Strategies for Inclusive Disaster Response and Digital Infrastructure
May 2025
Insights from a series of conversations with members of LISC’s Business Development Organization (BDO) Network to explore strategies for equitable small business recovery and digital transformation.
Click to ReadREPORT
From Crisis to Capacity:
Strategies for Inclusive Disaster Response and Digital Infrastructure
May 2025
Insights from a series of conversations with members of LISC’s Business Development Organization (BDO) Network to explore strategies for equitable small business recovery and digital transformation.
Click to ReadPUBLIC COMMENT
Docket No. DHS-2025-0013:
Supporting the development of a universal disaster assistance application
May 2025
Navigating the federal disaster recovery assistance landscape remains an immense challenge for survivors of disasters. Two pieces of legislation, the Disaster Assistance Simplification Act in the Senate and the Disaster Survivors Fairness Act in the House, currently hold bipartisan support, and seek to simplify the application process for federal disaster recovery assistance. As an organization dedicated to advancing disaster resilience in the South, especially in the wake of Hurricane Helene, MDC Inc. requests FEMA to develop a Universal Disaster Assistance Application to create a single point of entry for FEMA, HUD, SBA, USDA and other disaster recovery assistance programs. The reasons for this reform are threefold: 1) it minimizes duplication of information and benefits; 2) it reduces costs and time; and 3) it ensures that everyone in our Nation everywhere can recover from disasters that damage our communities and impede economic growth.
Click to ReadPUBLIC COMMENT
Docket No. FEMA-2021-0011:
Request for Information on FEMA Programs, Regulations, and Policies
May 2025
Comments and recommendations based on our members’ first-hand experience working in communities during disaster recovery efforts. In partnership with Legal Aid of North Carolina.
Click to Read