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• Asheville should support both affordable housing construction and home repair (still time to act)

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• Asheville should complete its affordable housing recovery investments (approved!)

• Buncombe County’s housing investments need an anti-displacement strategy (Resolved Negatively)
• Asheville should shift public safety funding toward prevention and community stability instead of continued expansion of expensive reactive policing systems (Unresolved)

Priority Issues: An Important Housing Decision for City Council

(The Terrace at River Hills proposal was approved, but the recovery funding amendment is still pending!)

This week Asheville City Council will consider two important housing recovery decisions. The first is a proposal to move $19.2 million in federal disaster recovery funding away from affordable housing construction and infrastructure projects into the State’s Renew NC home repair and reconstruction program. Helping storm-impacted homeowners remain housed is an important recovery priority. However, Hurricane Helene also displaced renters, intensified Asheville’s housing shortage, and increased housing insecurity throughout the community. We believe Asheville should pursue both homeowner recovery and affordable housing production while using limited recovery dollars in ways that help as many families as possible remain housed.

In addition, we are concerned that City leaders are being asked to make a major investment without sufficient transparency about program costs, efficiency, and outcomes. During last week’s Housing Recovery Board meeting, members cited the high cost per household served, limited access to state program data, and the opportunity cost of reducing affordable housing investments as reasons for recommending against the amendment. The City will also consider a separate bond-funded home repair strategy in July, raising important questions about how different homeowner assistance tools can work together to prevent displacement.

This debate has been evolving for more than six months. Early proposals would have shifted substantially more money away from affordable housing than the City is considering today. Thanks to sustained advocacy from community members, Asheville now appears poised to fund three affordable housing projects recommended through its competitive review process, including Terrace at River Hills, which was initially passed over but is back on the agenda this week. (Note: It passed 6-1.) This progress demonstrates that public participation matters. The remaining question is whether City Council will require sufficient transparency and accountability before moving $19.2 million away from multifamily affordable housing and into Renew NC.

Report Back: Buncombe County’s Stance on Anti-Displacement

Last week, GAP supporters sent emails and made public comments urging Buncombe County to develop a comprehensive anti-displacement strategy. We appreciate everyone who took action. The good news is that County Commissioners clearly heard concerns from residents about displacement and housing instability. The disappointing news is that there was no meaningful discussion among commissioners about creating an anti-displacement strategy and no commitment to future action. As recovery continues and housing pressures remain high, we believe this issue cannot be ignored. The need for a coordinated countywide approach to preventing displacement remains as urgent as ever, and GAP will continue pushing for action in the months ahead.

Take action with us:

• Email the Asheville City Council to delay or reject the proposed $19.2 million transfer into Renew NC, until Asheville residents receive clear evidence that this program is the most effective use of those recovery funds.

Resources:

• Click here to read our special report: Preventing Violence Before it Happens: Why Asheville Should Rebalance Public Safety Priorities in FY2027
• Click here to read our full proposed anti-displacement policy proposal