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HOME-ARP allocation plan amendment

At a glance

  • What: Substantial amendment to the HOME-ARP allocation plan for the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium's one-time $4.7 million federal allocation (which must be fully invested by August 2030): broaden supportive services to short-term rental assistance, set a preference for people experiencing homelessness (especially first-time homelessness after Helene on September 27, 2024), and use the Coordinated Entry system for referrals.
  • Where it stands: Approved October 13, 2026 (public hearing was September 22).
  • Next: City manager review of nonprofit fund oversight with a public report.

Public hearing (September 22, 2026)

  • Community Development Division Manager Shelton presented. The consortium (counties and municipalities in Madison, Buncombe, Henderson and Transylvania counties, with the City as lead) voted unanimously on August 12, 2026 to approve the amended plan. Public comment ran August 31 to October 2, 2026; hearing notice ran September 11.
  • Allocation under the plan: $3,001,943 affordable rental housing, $1,000,000 supportive services, $704,979 administration and planning (13 percent); total $4,706,922. The 2023 plan set no population preference and did not name Coordinated Entry. Other qualifying groups such as domestic violence survivors would still be served, through a waitlist under the preference.
  • In response to Mayor Manheimer, the wording will be changed to make clear the rental help is for a short period. Councilman Hess asked how the Coordinated Entry system works and how much of the $1 million goes to case management versus concrete help.
  • The hearing opened at 5:30 p.m. and closed at 5:31 p.m.; Sarah Newberry of Coordinated Entry clarified the process. No vote; the Mayor said consideration would be on October 13, 2026.

Amendment added at the meeting (October 13)

  • Council Member Hess added direction for the city manager to review and strengthen oversight of HOME-ARP funds passed to nonprofit partners, with a public report on anonymized recipients, amounts, direct assistance versus staffing and administration, households served and outcomes.
  • Staff agreed and suggested a manager's report; they also noted an annual performance report already covers expenditures.

Sources

Discussion time

About 4 minutes across 2 meetings (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting Minutes
2026-10-13 - City Council (formal meeting) 3
2026-10-08 - Council Agenda Briefing Worksession 1

Log