HUD Continuum of Care funding shift

At a glance

What: Federal Continuum of Care funding (about $2.6 million locally for FY2026) shifted from housing first and permanent housing toward treatment first and transitional housing.
Where it stands: Application submitted; HUD awards expected in December.
Next: Council asked staff for a deep dive on the impact.

Pulls dollars from permanent supportive housing at Homeward Bound and rapid rehousing at Helpmate (renewals requested at much lower amounts).
New transitional housing applicants applied for the first time: ABCCM, Eliada Homes, Haywood Street and Western Carolina Rescue Ministries.
Council concern: a treatment requirement could block housing for people who decline treatment, and local treatment capacity is limited.
Staff: the local Continuum of Care takes no policy position and is mapping spending across providers.

About 8 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting	Minutes
2026-10-13 - City Council (formal meeting)	8

2026-10-13 - City Council (formal meeting) - Emily Ball briefed council; members asked for a follow-up deep dive.
2026-09-08 - City Council - Councilwoman Roney asked for an update on the Continuum of Care and on the state transportation department's talks about people displaced by the I-26 connector. Councilman Hess asked that west Asheville homelessness go to the Public Safety Committee with Safe Shelter representatives, and Councilwoman Turner asked for an update on Haywood Road and Tunnel Road corridor work.
2026-08-25 - City Council - Consent: accept FY2025 HUD Continuum of Care planning ($102,043) and HMIS ($71,796) grants totaling $173,839 for 2027 (HUD renewed FY2024 awards without competition), with Ordinance 5249; and ratify a Youth Homelessness Systems Improvement application filed by the August 10 deadline. Unanimous.
2026-10-27 - City Council (formal meeting) - Continuum of Care grant submission adopted 6-0 (Hess recused.)