Special Meeting: Asheville Regional Housing Consortium (In-person) (Aug 27, 2025)

Meeting Overview

On August 27, 2025, the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium held a special in-person meeting at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center, with some attendees participating virtually. The session focused on regional housing challenges, the approval of previous minutes, and updates on ongoing housing initiatives and funding.

Key Decisions

The board unanimously approved the minutes from the June 11, 2025 meeting. Additionally, the board unanimously approved a motion to amend the agenda, moving the Housing Needs Assessment presentation to a later time slot. Regarding the consortium’s membership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the board voted to move forward with "Option One," which requires all consortium members to approve the addition of new municipalities.

Discussion Highlights

The primary focus of the meeting was a presentation by Patrick Bowen on the regional housing needs assessment. Bowen highlighted that the region is projected to grow by approximately 7,000 households between 2024 and 2029, with a significant increase in households headed by individuals over the age of 75. The presentation noted that a large percentage of renters struggle with housing costs, vacancy rates for affordable units are extremely low, and many lower-to-moderate income households cannot afford homeownership. Bowen also pointed out that a significant number of households live in overcrowded or substandard conditions, and that workers in key occupations, such as retail, often cannot afford housing within the region. The report further indicated that a significant number of housing units were impacted by recent disasters, with homeowner properties experiencing the most damage.

James Shelton, Community Development Division Manager, provided an update on the consortium’s HUD membership status, noting that the cities of Mars Hill and Marshall have not been officially recognized by HUD as members. The board discussed options for addressing this issue, with the vote to move forward with Option One serving as the immediate decision. Shelton assured the board that Mars Hill and Marshall would continue to be eligible for programs despite the current membership status.

Staff member Kaylee Pullum provided an update on the HOME American Rescue Plan Act (HOME-ARP) funding. The city is partnering with ICF International to develop a plan to allocate $3 million toward deeply affordable housing construction and $1 million toward supportive services. The board also discussed the Application Review Committee, with the consortium seeking volunteers from each jurisdiction to participate.

Community Input

The meeting included a process for public comment via phone. While the transcript summary notes that public comment was provided, it does not record specific remarks from members of the public or responses from board members to those comments.

Follow-ups

The board stated that a vote to formally add Mars Hill and Marshall as members will be held at the next meeting. Staff will continue working with ICF International to develop and implement the HOME-ARP allocation plan. Additionally, jurisdictions will appoint representatives to the Application Review Committee. The city will work to communicate information about the housing needs assessment and available resources to the public.

Impact

This meeting addressed the data-driven realities of housing affordability and availability in the Asheville region, including the impacts of population growth, aging, and natural disasters. The decision to pursue Option One for HUD membership clarifies the procedural path for adding new municipalities to the consortium, while the ongoing development of the HOME-ARP plan outlines how federal funds will be directed toward affordable housing construction and supportive services.