Council approves submission of 2025–29 consolidated plan and 2025–26 action plan, allocates CDBG and HOME recommendations

The Asheville City Council voted June 24 to approve submission of the 2025–2029 consolidated plan and the 2025–2026 annual action plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and endorsed staff funding recommendations for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) programs.

James Shelton, Community Development Division manager, and Jacob Kompffer of the Land of Sky Regional Council presented the draft consolidated plan and the annual action plan. Kompffer said the city expects roughly $972,000 in CDBG and about $1,000,000 in HOME funds for the coming year, plus program income. He described the consolidated plan as a blueprint that sets priorities, goals and eligible activities to ensure HUD funds are spent in accordance with federal requirements.

Staff recommended canceling two previously approved CDBG projects and reallocating roughly $15,000 from one canceled fair‑housing project to an existing project, and increasing the budget for Homeward Bound’s coordinated entry support. For the 2025‑26 allocation cycle, staff recommended keeping public service spending below HUD’s cap (about $150,000) and funding a mix of public‑service and non‑public‑service activities including tenant‑based rental assistance, microenterprise assistance, public facilities work, and homeowner rehabilitation.

For HOME funds (a consortium covering multiple counties), staff proposed a $300,000 tenant‑based rental assistance allocation, $400,000 for down payment assistance, and approximately $587,000 for homeowner rehabilitation. Staff noted available one‑time funds including program income and funds returned from a rescinded project; staff also described caps on administrative and CHDO (community housing development organization) set‑asides that constrain allocations.

Shelton told council that staff followed HUD timing requirements and planned to submit the consolidated plan and action plan to HUD by the July 13 deadline. Council received the plans and approved a motion to submit them to HUD and to authorize the city manager to sign related documents, plus approve associated budget amendments. The Asheville Housing Consortium and the city’s Housing and Community Development (HCD) advisory group recommended the funding package in recent votes.

Next steps: staff will publish the plans, open subrecipient application cycles later this year for assistance programs (including tenant‑based rental assistance), and submit final documents to HUD by the federal deadline.