Asheville Regional Housing Consortium Special Meeting – July 20, 2026

The City of Asheville's Asheville Regional Housing Consortium held a special meeting on July 20, 2026, primarily to discuss the allocation and prioritization of the $4.7 million HOME ARP program funding aimed at affordable housing and supportive services. The consortium reviewed the current funding breakdown, which includes over $3 million for affordable rental housing development and $1 million for supportive services such as case management, mental health, substance abuse support, and rental assistance. A key procurement-related discussion focused on setting a preference within the supportive services funding to prioritize rapid rehousing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, particularly those newly homeless since Hurricane Helene. The consortium considered leveraging the coordinated entry system for referrals to streamline service delivery. After discussion, a motion to adopt the staff recommendation to establish this preference was made, seconded, and passed by roll call vote. The meeting also addressed challenges in attracting applicants for affordable housing development funding and plans to issue another notice of funding opportunity in the fall. No changes to the overall funding allocation were proposed at this time, but the consortium expressed openness to future adjustments based on program uptake and community needs.