Report Back

Updated 10/19/26: City Council unanimously approved the $6 million Right at Home homelessness-prevention initiative. The discussion also addressed much of what we hoped to learn. Staff explained that the program is specifically designed to reach people at greatest risk of homelessness before they lose their housing, with a “fast to act” model intended to avoid administrative delays and a network of community organizations providing assistance. The program will track participants through the Homeless Management Information System and undergo rigorous evaluation, with the City reporting progress through the Continuum of Care. This should provide important information about whether participating households remain housed and which interventions work — exactly the kind of learning we asked this initiative to produce.

Staff said the initiative will initially work through ABCCM, Homeward Bound, Operation Gateway and Pisgah Legal Services, with services expected to begin in January. Council members also pressed staff about lessons from previous assistance programs in which money did not reach residents or result in direct services quickly enough. Staff said Right at Home includes required turnaround times, dedicated project-management staff and contractual requirements intended to prevent those problems.

Total GAP Supporter Actions Taken: 14

Recipients and Responses:

Asheville City Council

• Mayor Esther Manheimer: No response
• Vice Mayor Antanette Mosley: Responded, see below
• City Council Member Bo Hess: Responded, see below
• City Council Member Kim Roney: Responded, see below
• City Council Member Maggie Ullman:  No response
• City Council Member Sage Turner: No response
• City Council Member Sheneika Smith: No response

Email from Council Member Mosley:

Thank you for reaching out and sharing your thoughts on the items coming before Council tomorrow. I appreciate your engagement and the attention you’ve given to these proposals.

Keeping Asheville residents in their homes and protecting our neighborhoods from displacement have been central to my work on Council. I believe preventing homelessness is just as important as responding to it, and that our housing investments must be accompanied by meaningful measures of accountability.

You also raise important points about affordability in Shiloh, employment opportunities for people facing barriers, and ensuring that housing assistance reaches those with the greatest needs. These are all considerations that deserve careful attention as we evaluate the proposals.

Ultimately, our responsibility is not simply to approve programs or allocate funding, but to make sure those investments produce meaningful results for the people of Asheville.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your perspective.

Warmly,

Antanette 

Email from Council Member Hess:

Absolutely!

Thank you,

Bo

Email from Council Member Roney:

Thank you for writing in support of items on tonight’s Council agenda. I’m in agreement with you.

With gratitude,

Kim

Summary: Asheville City Council will consider accepting a $6 million grant to help prevent homelessness among at least 1,000 vulnerable households over three years. We support this investment in keeping people housed and encourage the City to measure its effectiveness so that future efforts can build on what works.

The Facts: At its October 13 meeting, City Council will consider accepting a $6 million grant from the non-profit organization, Destination Home, for a three-year initiative called Right at Home. The program would provide homelessness prevention services, including rental assistance and case management, to at least 1,000 financially vulnerable households. The initiative would be administered through the local Continuum of Care. No City matching funds are required.

You can read the staff report for this issue here.

Our Assessment: Preventing homelessness before it happens is one of the most direct ways to avert displacement. Helping residents remain in their homes can spare families considerable hardship while potentially reducing the need for more costly interventions after they become homeless.

We welcome this initiative and encourage the City to use it to learn more about what puts households at risk and which interventions are most effective.

Two questions seem particularly important: How will the program identify and reach households before they lose their housing? And how will the City measure and publicly report whether participating households remain stably housed?

Gathering these findings will not only help Right at Home fulfill its purpose; it will also strengthen the City’s broader efforts to identify and address displacement risks.

Things to Do (Updated 10/19/26): No additional action is recommended at this time. Last week, we invited you to email City Council using our template to support the Right at Home initiative and encourage clear measures of its effectiveness.