Housing and Community Development Committee (Virtual) (Nov 18, 2025)

Housing and Community Development Committee Meeting Recap: November 18, 2025

The City of Asheville’s Housing and Community Development Committee held a virtual meeting on November 18, 2025. The session focused on strategic updates for federal housing programs, the introduction of new leadership at the local housing authority, and the approval of previous meeting minutes. The agenda included information-sharing sessions on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) strategy for Fiscal Year 2026 and updates on the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and HOME American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding.

Key Decisions The only formal vote taken during the meeting was on the approval of the minutes from the October 21, 2025 meeting. Sheneika Smith moved to approve the minutes, and Sage Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously with a vote of 3-0. No other formal votes or binding decisions were recorded during the session.

Introduction of Housing Authority Leadership The committee welcomed Ella Santos, the new President and CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville. Santos shared her background, noting her previous tenure with the New York City Housing Authority, and outlined her initial priorities for the organization. These priorities include conducting surveys to listen to residents, landlords, and staff; restoring preferences for the housing authority; strengthening partnerships with the city, nonprofits, and private partners; and cultivating a culture of accountability. Councilmembers expressed enthusiasm for her leadership during the introduction.

CDBG Steady-State Strategy for FY26 James Shelton, Community Development Division Manager, presented the proposed strategy for the CDBG program for Fiscal Year 2026. The presentation highlighted a potential shift to allow internal city departments—such as Parks & Recreation, Stormwater, and Public Works—to apply for CDBG funding directly, alongside traditional partner organizations. The strategy also proposed establishing award minimums to reduce the number of grants and increase the impact of each investment. While the council expressed support for the overall direction, concerns were raised regarding the potential limitation of funding opportunities for smaller organizations. The discussion noted that 70% of CDBG funds must benefit low-to-moderate income residents and that the current cap on public service activities is 15%. The committee is being asked to provide feedback on these proposed changes, which are pending further discussion.

HOME and HOME-ARP Funding Updates Staff provided updates on the HOME program and the one-time HOME ARP funding. The HOME program supports down payment assistance, tenant-based rental assistance, and homeowner rehabilitation. Applications for partner organizations for the current cycle are open from November 10 to December 10, 2025. Staff will present recommendations to the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium (ARHC) on January 14, 2026, and seek City Council authorization for agreements by January 27, 2026.

Regarding the HOME ARP funds, the city is partnering with ICF Incorporated to roll out the funding, which targets vulnerable populations including homeless individuals, those at risk of homelessness, and victims of domestic violence. Two funding rounds are anticipated in Spring 2026: Round 1 will allocate $1,000,000 for supportive services such as mental health and case management, while Round 2 will allocate $3,001,493 for affordable rental housing new construction and rehabilitation. The city is working to ensure all funds are allocated by the 2030 deadline. The update also highlighted the Fairhaven Summit project as a success story utilizing these funds, with a grand opening scheduled for December 4, 2025.

Community Input and Follow-ups There were no speakers in the queue for public comment during the meeting. No specific follow-up actions were explicitly agreed to by members or staff beyond the standard process of staff evaluating CDBG applications and the committee providing feedback on the proposed strategy changes. The meeting concluded with the adjournment of the session.