County reopens homeowner grant applications; staff outline eligibility, budgets and outreach plans

Philip Harden, project manager with Buncombe County Health & Human Services, told the board on July 15 that the homeowner grant application period opened that day and reviewed program history and policy details.

Staff reported historical application counts: about 1,200 approved applications in FY22, roughly 700 in subsequent years, and an increase last year when staff processed nearly 600 additional applications in the week after Tropical Storm Helene. Harden said the county received 72 applications on the first open day of this year.

Harden reviewed demographic reporting changes: race/ethnicity reporting is now a required field (applicants may still select "prefer not to report") to improve demographic data. He reiterated program eligibility highlights: maximum household income up to 80% of area median income (AMI), primary residence occupancy requirement of 12 months, five-year homeownership requirement, limits on participating if receiving certain state tax exemptions and other administrative rules. Staff noted those eligibility conditions are administrative policy choices rather than statutory requirements.

Budget figures and participation

Harden said the county budget for the homeowner grant this year includes $155,000 in county dollars; last year Buncombe County spent roughly $252,000 in county funds, and the City of Asheville reduced its contribution from $150,000 to $75,000 for the current year. Harden said the program is administered as a Health & Human Services assistance program rather than a tax-exemption program, which governs how the county may structure eligibility and outreach.

Commissioners asked about outreach and verification burdens. Board members suggested restoring mailed flyers in tax bills (staff said a tax-bill insert was not feasible this year because of a reevaluation timeline) and using provider networks and the county’s partner coordinating groups to distribute flyers to reach eligible residents. Commissioners also asked staff to return with additional policy options to reduce administrative burden and to evaluate whether some verification steps (for example, excluding individuals already receiving state tax exemptions) should be changed.

Ending

Staff said they will follow up with commissioners on questions about the five-year ownership rule, state tax-exemption interaction and outreach alternatives; staff will bring policy-change proposals to the board if requested.