Special Meeting: Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (Hybrid) (Mar 5, 2026)

Affordable Housing Advisory Committee Special Meeting Recap: March 5, 2026

On March 5, 2026, the Asheville Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) held a special hybrid meeting focused on advising city leadership regarding a bond-funded home repair program and reviewing changes to the Housing Trust Fund. The meeting, attended by existing committee members and welcoming two new additions – Michael Passant and Mike Holmes – aimed to lay the groundwork for a program that addresses critical housing needs within Buncombe County.

A significant portion of the meeting revolved around a data analysis presentation by Andy Barnett, drawing on county tax assessor information. The findings revealed that approximately 4,000 residential structures (roughly 4% of the housing stock) in Buncombe County may require repair intervention. These homes are largely older, modest single-family dwellings concentrated in core city neighborhoods, with a notable correlation between repair need and households receiving the elderly property tax exemption. A key point of discussion was the data's limitations in capturing manufactured housing needs, highlighting a potential gap in addressing this segment of the community. Following the presentation, representatives from Mountain Housing Opportunities, Poderema, and Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity shared their experiences with existing repair programs, outlining both successes and challenges.

The committee engaged in extensive discussion regarding the scope of a potential repair program, debating factors like income targets, geographic focus, and project caps. Concerns were raised about the administrative burden of applications and prioritizing resources effectively. A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the importance of robust data collection, particularly regarding zip codes and demographics served, to ensure a targeted and impactful program. Public comment was provided by Lexi Aaron from Disability Partners, who emphasized the need to consider renters in any repair program and highlighted upcoming changes to HUD regulations regarding eviction notices, which could significantly impact housing stability.

While no formal votes were taken concerning policy recommendations during this meeting, the committee approved the minutes from their previous January 2026 meeting via roll call vote. The discussion itself served as a crucial step in shaping the future direction of the Home Repair Program.

Looking ahead, city staff will develop a draft policy for review by the committee, with the goal of presenting it at their May meeting. Committee members are encouraged to actively participate in this drafting process, providing feedback and assistance. Furthermore, the committee will continue exploring data collection strategies to refine their understanding of community needs and track program impact. Finally, they will consider the implications of the upcoming changes to eviction notice regulations and their potential effects on housing stability, ensuring a proactive approach to addressing emerging challenges. This meeting demonstrated a clear commitment from the AHAC to develop a data-driven and collaborative approach to addressing critical housing needs in Buncombe County.

For more information about the AHAC and their ongoing work, please visit https://www.ashevillenc.gov/AHAC.