Asheville Regional Housing Consortium – May 21, 2025

Asheville Regional Housing Consortium Meeting Recap: Addressing Housing Challenges in Our Region

On May 21, 2025, the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium convened to discuss critical housing issues facing our region, particularly those amplified by recent natural disasters and ongoing affordability challenges. The meeting brought together representatives from Buncombe, Madison, Henderson, and Transylvania counties, along with developers, non-profit organizations, and other stakeholders. This recap summarizes the key discussions, decisions, and next steps for residents to understand how these efforts will impact our community.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on assessing the damage from recent storms, which have disproportionately impacted various areas. Discussions highlighted substantial damage in the "back cave curtain" area, with several apartment complexes requiring temporary relocation of residents. County representatives shared their experiences: Buncombe County is seeing developers actively pursuing both single-family and multi-family housing projects; Madison County is grappling with over 1,000 damaged units and navigating a buyout program requiring county approval; Henderson County is experiencing increased interest in converting storage spaces into housing following minimal storm damage; and Transylvania County is dealing with tree damage and displacement impacting homes across various elevations. The devastation in Marshall, Buncombe County, where 18 single-family homes were destroyed and a public housing complex was significantly impacted, underscored the urgency of addressing these needs.

The Consortium made two key decisions impacting funding and development. First, they approved an amendment to reallocate $500,000 previously designated for the Maribel development after the developer withdrew from the project. This freed-up funding will be used for other housing initiatives within the region. Secondly, a significant debate centered around how to best allocate approximately $1.5 million in available Home program funds, considering a potential reduction from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Options discussed included focusing solely on new rental housing projects, a hybrid approach combining funding for down payment assistance, tenant-based rental assistance, and homeowner rehabilitation, or prioritizing a "demand side" focus on down payment assistance for homebuyers and tenant-based rental assistance. A virtual meeting will be scheduled in the coming weeks to finalize these funding decisions, aligning with the consolidated plan process.

While there were no formal public comments during this meeting, discussions consistently emphasized a need to better understand and address the housing needs of younger residents struggling with affordability. A recurring theme was also the recognition that smaller municipalities often lack the capacity to administer complex housing programs, highlighting a need for increased support and technical assistance. The City of Asheville is currently collaborating with Boeing to complete a comprehensive housing needs assessment, which will provide valuable data for future planning and inform targeted solutions.

Looking ahead, several action items emerged from the meeting. Consortium staff will gather additional data to inform future discussions and present it for review. A virtual follow-up meeting is planned soon to finalize funding decisions. The Consortium will also explore ways to improve community engagement, particularly regarding affordable housing initiatives, ensuring residents have a voice in shaping solutions. Ultimately, the meeting underscored the ongoing challenges of housing affordability and availability across our region, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts between county governments, non-profit organizations, and developers to create a more equitable and resilient housing landscape for all residents.