Special Meeting: Asheville Regional Housing Consortium (In-Person) (May 13, 2026)

Asheville Regional Housing Consortium Meeting Recap – May 13, 2026

On May 13th, 2026, the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium (ARHC) convened a special meeting in person and via livestream to discuss ongoing affordable housing initiatives, upcoming funding opportunities, and membership updates across the region. The meeting, attended by representatives from Asheville City Council, Henderson County, Buncombe County, Transylvania County, and other organizations, provided a comprehensive overview of current projects and future plans impacting housing availability for residents.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on updates to existing programs and projects. Kaylee Pulliam provided progress reports on several funded initiatives, highlighting successes like the Community Housing Coalition of Madison County and HelpMates programs. Notably, the Lake Shore Villas project, a multifamily development, is nearing completion and expected to open this month. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Apple Ridge project in Henderson County, a 60-unit development with five designated home-assisted units, was also celebrated, receiving additional funding supported by both Asheville City Council and the Consortium. Discussions regarding the 2025 funding awards revealed that some partners are awaiting the next fiscal year to finalize contracts, but three sub-recipients are on track for completion by the end of May.

A key discussion centered around the Home ARP Rental Housing program, which recently concluded its application cycle targeting vulnerable populations including those experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless, as well as individuals fleeing domestic violence. Stephanie Carl and Jonathan Jones from ICF presented an update on the program, outlining its focus and upcoming supportive services program. A crucial decision was made to formally approve the inclusion of Marshall and Mars Hill as full members, a process involving signed cooperation agreements from all member governments. This inclusion will take effect on July 1st, 2026, and a virtual welcome is planned for the August 12th meeting. Looking ahead, Kaylee Pulliam outlined plans for the 2026 Home Awards, prioritizing a new multifamily housing construction project with applications opening in November/December.

The meeting also addressed findings from the city's single audit, specifically concerning monitoring of subrecipients for the 2024-2025 program year. James Shelton acknowledged these challenges and assured attendees that a corrective action plan is in place, with another audit scheduled for the coming year. While no public comments were received during the meeting, attendees agreed to continue serving on the funding committee for the Home ARP awards and identified a need to identify a fourth member representing Madison County.

What's Next? Several key action items emerged from the meeting, impacting residents across the region. The ICF/Consortium will review and evaluate Home ARP Rental Housing applications by June, with the Consortium Funding Committee providing recommendations in June. A special virtual meeting is scheduled for July to vote on those recommendations, and the formal welcome of Marshall and Mars Hill will take place in August. City staff are tasked with continuing to implement the corrective action plan outlined in the audit findings and preparing for accepting applications for the 2026 Home Awards later this year.

This meeting underscored the ARHC's ongoing commitment to addressing regional housing needs and highlighted the collaborative efforts underway to expand affordable housing options for residents. The decisions made, particularly regarding program funding and membership expansion, will directly impact the availability of housing resources for vulnerable populations in the coming year. Residents are encouraged to stay informed about future opportunities and updates through the City of Asheville’s website and YouTube channel.