Summary (updated 6/22/26): Two County leaders have now responded to our call for a countywide anti-displacement strategy. While we appreciate that engagement, important questions remain about whether existing programs and planning efforts amount to a coordinated framework for identifying, preventing, and mitigating displacement.

Original Summary (6/15/26): Residents have repeatedly asked Buncombe County to address displacement and adopt an anti-displacement framework, yet County leaders continue making major housing and recovery decisions without one and without providing any meaningful public response. Commissioners should explain whether they intend to address displacement and why they have ignored these concerns.

The Facts (updated 6/22/26): Since publication of this report, GAP has received responses from Commission Chair Amanda Edwards and Commissioner Terri Wells, and County staff presented information at a recent Commission briefing regarding housing, affordability, and related County initiatives. These responses point to a variety of existing programs, plans, and investments intended to support housing stability and affordability.

The Facts (original 6/15/26): Over the past six months, a range of residents with diverse interests have repeatedly urged Buncombe County to adopt an anti-displacement strategy or analysis framework. GAP supporters have sent emails, submitted public comments, met with officials, and spoken at County Commission meetings.

At the June 2 meeting alone, multiple speakers urged commissioners to consider displacement impacts when making housing, recovery, and economic development decisions. These requests came from affordable housing advocates, displaced business owners, housing bond supporters, and GAP members.

Meanwhile, the County continues advancing major housing and recovery initiatives, including these on their June 16th agenda:

• A proposed $40 million housing bond
• Affordable housing investments
• Commercial district revitalization projects
• Recovery investments associated with the Helene Recovery Plan
• Hazard mitigation property acquisitions and redevelopment planning

Taken together, these initiatives will shape where people live, whether businesses return, and who can afford to remain in Buncombe County in the years ahead.

Our Assessment (updated 6/22/26): We appreciate that County leaders have now engaged more directly with the concerns raised in this report. The responses we received make clear that County officials recognize displacement as an important issue and view displacement prevention as a key value reflected in the Comprehensive Plan and other County initiatives.

The remaining questions we have regard how the County identifies displacement risks, evaluates the potential impacts of major decisions, and measures whether its policies are actually reducing displacement over time. What we have been advocating for is a more systematic framework for monitoring conditions, analyzing proposed actions before decisions are made, and publicly reporting outcomes so that residents and policymakers can assess what is working and where additional intervention may be needed.

We will explore those questions in greater detail in next week’s report.

Our Assessment (original 6/15/26): We support many of the County’s housing and recovery investments. What concerns us is the County’s apparent unwillingness to engage with residents about displacement.

Over the past six months, community members have repeatedly raised concerns that public investments can unintentionally accelerate displacement if governments fail to track who benefits, who is being left behind, and whether existing residents can afford to remain in place.

County leaders have never publicly explained why they have declined to pursue an anti-displacement framework. They have never publicly discussed the proposal at a County Commission meeting. They have never explained whether displacement is being analyzed in some other way. They have never responded to the central question residents continue asking: How will Buncombe County know whether its housing and recovery investments are actually helping vulnerable residents remain in their communities?

Reasonable people can disagree about policy. But public accountability requires engagement. When residents take the time to write thoughtful emails, prepare public comments, attend meetings, and speak directly to elected officials, they deserve more than silence.

If County leaders disagree with the proposal, they should explain why.

If they support the idea, they should act on it.

What they should not do is continue pretending the issue has not been raised.

Things to do: No action is needed at this time. GAP will continue reviewing the County’s responses and provide a more detailed analysis in next week’s report.

Report Back

County Leaders Respond to Anti-Displacement Proposal

Last week, GAP published a report calling on Buncombe County to adopt a comprehensive anti-displacement strategy. Since then, we have received responses from Commission Chair Amanda Edwards and CommissionerTerri Wells, and County staff devoted a significant portion of a recent Commission briefing to discussing housing, affordability, and displacement-related efforts already underway.

We appreciate the fact that County leaders are engaging with these concerns. Meaningful dialogue is an important step forward.

At the same time, the central question raised in our report remains unresolved: do the County’s existing programs and planning efforts add up to a coordinated strategy for identifying, preventing, and mitigating displacement, or is a more explicit framework still needed?

Over the coming week, we will be reviewing the County’s responses in greater detail and formulating detailed replies to each point. We plan to share that analysis in next week’s GAP Report.

Total GAP Supporter Actions Taken: 9

Recipients and Responses:

Buncombe County Commission

• County Commission Chair Amanda Edwards: Responded, see below.
• County Commissioner Al Whitesides: No response
• County Commissioner Drew Ball: No response
• County Commissioner Jennifer Horton: No response
• County Commissioner Martin Moore: No response
• County Commissioner Parker Sloane: No response
• County Commissioner Terri Wells: Responded, see below.