An Asheville father told Congress his family is still homeless after Helene as lawmakers warn rising insurance costs and denied claims may impact people nationwide.
RALEIGH, N.C. — A North Carolina father shared emotional testimony on Capitol Hill Tuesday, describing how his pregnant wife and toddler were left without a home after Hurricane Helene and forced to cover housing costs out of pocket while waiting on insurance support that never came.
Jacob Vertel, an Asheville resident, told lawmakers that State Farm denied his family’s request for housing assistance, even after Buncombe County condemned their storm-damaged home as unsafe to enter.
“Now 228 days after the storm, our home remains untouched, with no progress being made,” Vertel said. “What could have been just a blip in [my son’s] childhood has become a major event in his life, as he repeatedly asks to go back home.”
