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