# Affordable Housing Subcommittee | Oct 6, 2026

**Body:** Buncombe County Government — Buncombe County Affordable Housing Subcommittee
**Date:** October 5, 2026 8:00 PM EDT (2026-10-05T20:00:00-04:00)

**Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3211

## Summary

**Buncombe County Affordable Housing Subcommittee Meeting Recap**
**Date:** October 6, 2026

The Affordable Housing Subcommittee convened on October 6, 2026, to review updates on disaster recovery housing initiatives and the 2027 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP). Attendees included subcommittee members and staff presenters Kevin Mattson and Jonathan Jones. The meeting opened with the unanimous approval of the September 1 meeting minutes. During the public comment period, no individuals spoke in person or online; however, a pre-written comment was received and distributed to the subcommittee members for their review.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on the status of Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds. Kevin Mattson reported that FEMA has provided over $568 million to North Carolina residents, with Buncombe County serving more than 161,000 households through various federal programs. Mattson detailed the allocation of funds for single-family homes, workforce housing for ownership, small rental rehabilitation, and multifamily projects. He noted that while timelines for single-family repairs vary based on cost, temporary relocation assistance does not cover storage or pet fees. Additionally, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program has acquired 49 parcels so far, with further buyouts scheduled for late October. Mattson emphasized that the timeline for federal approval of future uses for these properties, such as parks or greenways, remains a variable factor controlled by external agencies.

The subcommittee also examined the 2027 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) presented by Jonathan Jones. Key changes included the elimination of minimum parking space requirements per unit, a decision made by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA) in response to state legislation. Jones highlighted that while 12% of additional tax credits were designated for the "West region" due to Tropical Storm Helene, Buncombe County, classified as part of the Metro region, is excluded from this specific set-aside. In response, a member noted that the destruction of homes was not a "contest" the community wanted to win, underscoring the emotional weight of the recovery process.

To address the exclusion from the regional set-aside, the subcommittee took formal action regarding the QAP. A motion was made and seconded to authorize the subcommittee chair to submit comments on behalf of Buncombe County to the NCHFA. The motion carried, directing that the county advocate for recognition of its ongoing recovery efforts. The goal of this submission is to request that NCHFA ensure Buncombe receives at least one award, rather than being capped at 6.7% of metro allocations.

Several follow-up actions were agreed upon to support these decisions and improve future program accessibility. Staff will provide a summary and talking points explaining why community members have not applied for the Small Rental Rehab and Single Family Housing programs, incorporating feedback from partners. Staff will also verify if there is a per-unit cost cap for the Workforce Housing for Ownership program and incorporate data on the number of residential units lost in Buncombe County into the draft comment letter. The finalized letter will be sent to the Chair for signature and submission to the NCHFA. These steps aim to ensure Buncombe County’s specific needs are clearly articulated in the state’s housing funding distribution.

## Video & Transcript

- Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMxtEhP_jF0
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/2153/segments

## Sources

- [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMxtEhP_jF0)