[{"_1":2,"_108":-5,"_109":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6527252,"mediaKeyId","3639509-f8db716c4b8a9bd81cf8496d928094dc","parentId",3639509,"title","Aging services update: HCCBG caps, reporting-system problems and state storm funds","audioSeconds",304,"startMs",54000,"endMs",358000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3639509-f8db716c4b8a9bd81cf8496d928094dc&start=54&end=358","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3639509-f8db716c4b8a9bd81cf8496d928094dc/thumbnail_54000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6527252/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Aging-services-update-HCCBG-caps-reporting-system-problems-and-state-storm-funds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527252-c81f9b05efc3a2624b679d3983aaaff3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135776&Signature=b~sPUr9ZDhA9~7k~8~nSeF8-cIsi1wxeXAncJWHBhDPOBAcjd-6yDwrXmsfl7jPRtasyESK~UCyLGENusyIisy9VQcLKvQ1fFkdb15UTUmRB9bKC00EsxZ44olC9i7~hHaYJM7Pi9iRma8R2rnsRKIE458puWO0JsQuJfJHdOJZtQLoDWvjW07M3wrJSAZb-0XamTewS0uMw1W56M2fca0TJ-zfTjy0ZcGbGWaNIg8PbQTB2QTFpnQ5pN-AEiMhPfjtcg9T8XfrEVXTM0H0N31XZKC42gykNLI5TUTIrPsom0vHS66RlX0zSP~DZqtFnP9RMcKbXaONPo9kiShoWdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Buncombe County, NC","date","2025-06-03T18:32:15.947Z","article","Allison (county aging staff) briefed the committee on Buncombe County’s aging-related housing supports, explaining how federal HCCBG and county supplemental aging funds are being used for home repairs and short-term housing supports for residents age 60 and over.

“All the different things that the funding can be used for,” Allison said, describing Home and Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG) eligible activities and noting that HCCBG home-improvement projects have a per-project and per-household restriction of $7,000. She said HCCBG-funded home improvements are limited to people age 60 and over.

Allison said Mountain Housing Opportunities received $64,939 in the most recent fiscal year and that the HCCBG committee, pending final federal figures, has recommended a $50,000 allocation for the next fiscal year. The committee also reviewed other HCCBG recipients: United Community Development of North Carolina’s urgent home-repair program was listed in the application as targeting residents 60+ in legacy neighborhoods, but staff reported the group used only about 2% of its award and relinquished the funds after reporting difficulties with the state’s aging resource management system.

On that system, staff described persistent problems: the Department of Health and Human Services aging resource management system is “very old” and “not very user friendly,” Allison said. County staff said Land of Sky (the Area Agency on Aging) and other partners have been advocating for a system update at the state level. Billy Breeden, the county’s aging services coordinator (named in the meeting), offered to meet with the provider to explain reporting requirements and to assist with the system process.

Allison also summarized Buncombe County supplemental aging funds, which county staff use to pay for services outside HCCBG categories for people age 60 and under income thresholds (county staff said recipients are generally at or below 60% of area median income). She said the county received state disaster-related funds after Hurricane Helene targeted adults served by Adult Protective Services or contracted guardianship services; staff said those storm relief funds were specific and not general county dollars. County staff reported using about $31,000 of targeted storm-related funds on housing supports between January and May (home repairs, plumbing, wheelchair ramps and temporary facility placements).

Allison noted the county has an active housing-options-for-aging-in-place work group, led by Billy Breeden, which produced an aging-in-place guide that has not yet been printed. Committee members requested that Billy or members of the work group return to a future meeting to share the guide and work group recommendations.

Ending: Committee members thanked staff and asked county aging staff to follow up on state reporting-system advocacy and provide additional details on allocations when federal numbers are finalized.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Affordable Housing Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Allison, county aging staff, told the Housing Committee that HCCBG-funded home-improvement projects for residents 60 and older carry a $7,000 per-project, per-household cap and that reporting-system problems this year led one provider to relinquish funds.","taxTitle","Buncombe County, North Carolina","taxId",3914,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6527242,"Libraries, behavioral health and community paramedics highlighted as housing-stability supports",747,1418000,2165000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3639509-f8db716c4b8a9bd81cf8496d928094dc&start=1418&end=2165","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3639509-f8db716c4b8a9bd81cf8496d928094dc/thumbnail_1418000.jpg","/articles/6527242/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Libraries-behavioral-health-and-community-paramedics-highlighted-as-housing-stability-supports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527242-17c3da8806f993c1989f4be8a13344b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135776&Signature=fy6Cz1KmjQ-3aRdgEDDgfC-dE6qpkEcEaxlULReImJgNKfeNc~xrfdH4jZQGvQuAwfJo7duFfe3vAYiQ-1HYY9Cn3gu5BS928YjlGrsVH4nAx-ryvy8zlA9XyTpmHo1o9e1-IxOW6A-HdzDtxvrEAjlI-ULLfbOsP8IBvOFOFjZi55kpvpXbQ-Qq6QHIMwQjqJBmER-MmW9br4wSNd8MRFAwhVlMulBEsTkirffi7TGWlZMwu4eBqucOueMueumY6y0HB8t9GEPxyFBBsEY7aAyhsfZjWch5igmxDzlYmX6ckchM8Mt5BC1xWCLP6lw3M0-Qe1rgNqlGOig5uyeg1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County and partner staff told the committee that non‑housing services—library-based social work, behavioral-health outreach, community paramedicine and recovery housing—play an important role in preventing homelessness and supporting people into stable housing.

Jason Hyatt, representing Buncombe County Library services, described two library initiatives that support people facing housing instability: a full-time library safety associate position (a county staff hire intended to replace uniform contracted security with a plainclothes staff member who can build relationships) and a part-time Homeward Bound case manager funded by the library budget. Hyatt said that the plainclothes safety associate model reduced conduct incidents and increased staff comfort; the position is vacant at the moment and actively being recruited.

Hyatt said the Homeward Bound case manager spends roughly 20 hours per week on site at Pack Memorial Library and focuses primarily on housing issues, working with patrons who need help with housing applications, de-escalation and referrals to AHOPE and other providers. The case manager has helped divert patrons from homelessness and in some cases assisted older adults to secure housing and furnishings after move-in.

Victoria Reichert (behavioral health staff) reported trends from coordinated entry and permanent supportive housing assessments. She said coordinated entry showed a sharp rise in vulnerability assessments recommending permanent supportive housing: staff reported 66% at a comparable point in FY 2023, 73% in the prior year and 92% in the current reporting period, indicating a larger share of people assessed have complex needs that require wraparound supports. Reichert said the number of people moving into housing is lower than last year and attributed part of that to changes in Asheville Housing Authority application processes and timing.

Reichert also described community paramedicine and recovery-related investments: community paramedics coordinate care and assist communicable-disease nurses in locating clients who need treatment follow-up; county staff reported a reduction in paramedic responses to overdoses alongside an increase in medication inductions for opioid-use disorder, which staff said helps stabilize people so they can pursue housing applications and follow-through.

Reichert said opioid-settlement and related funds are being used for social-determinants support; staff reported that roughly 57% of a recent allocation went toward housing retention and supportive steps, with about $112,000 cited as having gone toward housing support (staff presented this as a near-year of expenditure data).

Reichert also noted a new Community Development Block Grant Recovery Housing award that would expand transitional housing capacity: staff reported an additional $2.5 million awarded to supplement a prior $1 million award to support Transformation Village and other recovery housing options after storm-related damage to existing facilities; an environmental review was described as pending.

Ending: Staff said these non-development supports are important to moving people into and retaining housing and that partners will continue coordinating service responses and tracking how changes in shelter capacity and housing authority policies affect placement rates.","Library and behavioral-health staff told the county committee that on-site casework at libraries, community paramedicine and recovery-housing investments are critical parts of the county’s approach to housing stability.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6527247,"Committee weighs raising homeowner grant cap as staff review eligibility and outreach",0,793000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3639509-f8db716c4b8a9bd81cf8496d928094dc&start=793&end=793","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3639509-f8db716c4b8a9bd81cf8496d928094dc/thumbnail_793000.jpg","/articles/6527247/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Committee-weighs-raising-homeowner-grant-cap-as-staff-review-eligibility-and-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527247-95329f6a6a7e7341bac7166b21e26764/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135776&Signature=fxcjcgwx9woQcm~90WqykTMiauXLeTO6liOEhyD1drsW64GYP~TeMuxLJfe~BM5MzooqNZ3rZuBeRWn1XV8wHVTCkuS0mt9Ybqr~nhAiQ2gPld-Dkje9k7FtCr73j-sUOBIR2dlqC476aqbv4N-ExRjWh~7sz9CezVI4i9nucT7XTvjkDRYT0Je29Thh8t-E9AeoznbsdB6hp1EQFe1B1Xk5YehcoFpuZZvixjk~yonl1PRRFhnrC-0PrzgFS-0vjfmpzBkB7v1K~qGKbgLIKgCdN10UTVAXrZXzCF9moCnAdkhVFg17A-WPQU~d6jEvIvErNc39Q0bislmGvAFRBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kimberly Fullerton, filling in for Philip Harden in Economic Services, reviewed the county's homeowner grant program and fielded questions after the committee’s presentation on housing assistance.

Kimberly said the program runs annually and that Buncombe County has historically contributed $300 to county residents and the City of Asheville contributed an additional $200 for city residents, meaning eligible city residents receive $500. The program is income-based, Kimberly said, and staff estimate the program will open July 1 for the next cycle.

Committee members said the homeowner grant program has been undersubscribed and suggested changes to boost participation, including outreach and a possible increase in the per-household cap. One committee member proposed raising the county cap from $300 to $350 to make the assistance more meaningful amid rising utility and housing costs. The member noted that an increase could help reach more people who are struggling to pay bills and that current uptake suggests some eligible residents do not know about the program.

Kimberly said staff will check whether a mid-year cap change is permissible under the current program guidelines and funding rules. She noted the program is income-guided and that some eligibility elements—such as income thresholds and residency verification—are tied to program design and partner funding (city/county contributions). She told the committee she would provide the specific income guidelines and current program criteria before the next application round.

On outreach, Kimberly said the county distributes the program information with property tax bills and that staff are considering additional methods—automated calls or other notifications—to boost awareness among fixed-income homeowners. Staff and committee members discussed expanding eligibility or adjusting other criteria for FY2026 if rules cannot be changed for FY2025.

Ending: Staff agreed to follow up with details on program eligibility, the current application timeline and whether a cap increase could be implemented this fiscal year.","County staff described the annual homeowner grant program, the differing awards for county and city residents, and committee members discussed raising the $300 county cap (and $500 for city residents) to boost uptake; staff said income guidelines and program rules may limit changes for the current fiscal year.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":90,"_43":101,"_45":101,"_47":102,"_49":103,"_51":104,"_53":105,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":106,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":107,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6527257,"Buncombe County reports $24.9 million in ARPA housing investments; 455 units expected",969000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3639509-f8db716c4b8a9bd81cf8496d928094dc&start=969&end=969","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3639509-f8db716c4b8a9bd81cf8496d928094dc/thumbnail_969000.jpg","/articles/6527257/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Buncombe-County-reports-249-million-in-ARPA-housing-investments-455-units-expected","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527257-f9621c42d6a2172965545af347bab588/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135776&Signature=AsWYGYtb~sxw5O1UPbeW~nPQ~wnKetBKL0CpJFQxfFUTZ5NJN9zSZyMUwUMkhyscraX0m~lvJVeES01iB6RQmNN1r9gJ6rAh4fb6dOOnr7ZulsOCGqWm01Y4PH~p~dU4vRpGO96tivafsCCd7FrPaXrDkKycAIlktiHcVjN52jszC00JG7DC1Hnq4kkEmatZ8kOTAv0apmEwNE~hA73zmDdls8V1qxL-6Q5NOPM6An5ncBLEazHw-CseF6c0tCa2S4j~fx~5Zamw8MY2e1zUwnhW00TimvByghtoxoOcfbGR0DZt6-SCVkGsGr3UG3OvhZZMx8U0Oc67GT-GfEV6mw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Buncombe County housing staff told the Housing Committee that roughly $24.9 million of the county's approximately $50.7 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds have been allocated to housing-related projects, with an estimated 455 new affordable housing units planned across several developments.

The funding update came from Tyler Henry, strategic partnerships staff, who said affordable housing ranked highest in public input sessions when the county decided how to use ARPA funds. “Out of all the housing related ARPA investments, there's 24.9 out of that 50,700,000.0, so approximately 49% of all of our funds are in housing related projects,” Henry said.

Why it matters: ARPA funds are flexible federal dollars. Nearly half directed to housing signals a sustained local emphasis on development, household assistance and homelessness response following storm impacts earlier in the year.

County staff presented the major development projects and estimated unit counts: Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, Mountain Housing Opportunities (including a recent groundbreaking announced after the storm), Haywood Street Community Development, Homeward Bound, and an internal Cox Avenue affordable housing project. Combined, staff estimated 455 new units from the listed projects (figures do not include potential additional units associated with Berry Road, staff said).

Household-assistance programs supported by ARPA and other pots were also summarized. Staff said programs led by Thrive, Evelyn Charity (stability for older adults), Greenbelt, The Arc of Buncombe County, Land of Sky Regional Council, Calabash (spelled in slides as “Calabrio” — not specified), Villanova (as listed in the slide), and county internal home-repair projects are expected to assist a cumulative total of about 1,570 households once all projects are completed. The assistance covers rental help, energy-efficiency upgrades, internet access, workforce development and repairs to existing housing stock.

On homelessness response, Henry listed two projects: HelpMate’s planned 42-bed shelter for survivors of domestic violence and a coordinated shelter support partnership with the City of Asheville that staff said supports operations across multiple organizations, preserving 40 existing beds and adding 17 new beds.

Committee members asked about project status. Henry said many development projects have either broken ground or completed spending the funds that were granted; some are still under development and using the grants to complete their capital stacks. He pointed to Mountain Housing Opportunities as a recent ground-breaking and said Ferry Road and Cox Avenue remain to be kicked off.

Committee members also asked how families in need find these programs. Henry said project information is posted on the county ARPA webpage (buncombecounty/ARPA) and that callers to 2-1-1 or the county’s one-call resource lines are commonly redirected to programs. He said there is not a single unified application portal for every program and that community partners are discussing better referral and application coordination.

County staff said they will provide ongoing status updates, including when groundbreakings occur and when the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency announces tax-credit awards later in the summer.

Ending: Staff said quarterly reports and year-end updates will be brought to the committee in August; committee members asked staff to continue notifying them of project milestones.","County staff briefed the housing committee on American Rescue Plan Act investments totaling about $50.7 million, with roughly $24.9 million directed to housing development, an estimated 455 units in development projects, and more than 1,570 households served by household-assistance programs to date.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Aging services update: HCCBG caps, reporting-system problems and state storm funds

Libraries, behavioral health and community paramedics highlighted as housing-stability supports

Committee weighs raising homeowner grant cap as staff review eligibility and outreach

Buncombe County reports $24.9 million in ARPA housing investments; 455 units expected