Housing and Community Development Committee (Virtual) (Sep 16, 2025)

Recap of Housing and Community Development Committee Meeting - September 16, 3025

The Housing and Community Development (HCD) Committee convened virtually on September 16, 2025, with Councilmembers Mosley (Chair), Smith, and Turner in attendance. The meeting focused on a range of critical issues including affordable housing, services for unhoused individuals, community development activities, and post-disaster housing stability. A significant portion of the discussion centered on balancing efforts to address the city's housing supply crisis with a commitment to preventing displacement of existing residents.

A key decision made during the meeting was the committee’s unanimous vote to move forward with allocating $3 million from the City's CDBG-DR funds to support the RenewNC home repair program for Asheville residents impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. This recommendation will now be forwarded to City Council for final approval, enabling the partnership with North Carolina's Renew NC program to administer repairs and reconstruction assistance for eligible homeowners, prioritizing low-income households with children, elderly, or disabled residents. The committee also received an update from the Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care (CoC), highlighting their strategic plan, funding initiatives, and ongoing efforts to address homelessness within the community. The CoC emphasized their collaborative approach and welcomed continued partner buy-in to maximize impact.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing anti-displacement strategies and potential expansion of the HCD Committee’s scope. The committee explored data layers identifying areas vulnerable to displacement, discussed Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) regulations, and considered the need for a "displacement vulnerability analysis" framework. Public comment highlighted concerns about displacement pressures, urging consistent definitions of displacement and prioritizing protections in lower-risk areas. The Legacy Neighborhoods Coalition offered to share local data and lived experience to inform the committee’s decisions.

Looking ahead, the committee is planning further discussions on topics including CDBG-DR housing programs, a Stewart Street loan revision request, HOME Allocation Awards, and an update on the Point-In-Time Count. The committee also discussed potentially expanding its scope to include reviewing anti-displacement strategies and changes to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that impact housing. The next steps include council consideration of authorizing the city manager to enter into an agreement with the state regarding CDBGDR funds, and exploring options for incorporating a displacement vulnerability analysis framework into planning processes.