Elonnie Alston, 75, and his family lived in their Chapel Hill home for over 35 years. When Tropical Depression Chantal made its way through in July, it caused flooding like he had never seen in their area.
His home was nearly destroyed.
Other WRAL Top Stories
“Some people said it ain’t worth maybe going back, but I think so," Alston said. "After you live in a place for 35 years, I think it’s worth taking another chance.”
Habitat for Humanity began work to repair the home after the storm. Walls and floorboards were ripped out before inspectors determined the home was in a floodplain and was not worth repairing. Since then, the family has been forced to move hotel rooms every 3 days to find the cheapest fares.
“We’ve been moving all over the place. We went from motel to motel. We’ve been living in motels all over the place," Alston said.
His wife uses a wheel chair and has health issues; he told WRAL the instability has been taxing on them both.
“It takes a toll on you when you see it in this condition, then you have to come in and visit and leave," Alston said. "That’s the sad thing about it. You just can’t live in it."
Habitat for Humanity offered the couple a newly built home, but being 75 years old, Alston did not believe signing up for a 30-year mortgage would be sustainable. The family wanted to make their home livable again, but it won't be cheap.
“The estimate that I got was $200,000, one was $180,000, and another guy quoted me, he said it was around $150,000," Alston said.
Since Chantal ripped through the area, the family has seen Chapel Hill rebuild, while they are stuck in the same place.
"If I see Eastgate can rebuild, why can’t I rebuild? Because my property is just as important as that property," Alston said.
The family has created a GoFundMe to help with housing expenses and getting their home repaired. Click here for more information.