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Buncombe County outlines Just Home planning, eyes up-to-$5 million MacArthur loan
Summary
County staff said Buncombe County was selected as one of nine sites for the Just Home initiative and presented a planning report built from more than 400 surveys and 450 community contacts; staff said MacArthur funding of up to $5,000,000 would be available as a one-time loan for an implementation project.
Buncombe County officials told commissioners on Monday that community-driven planning for the Just Home initiative is complete and will inform whether the county pursues a one-time implementation project supported by a MacArthur-backed loan of up to $5,000,000.
Regina, who led the presentation, said the county was one of nine sites selected and that an accelerated planning phase — reduced from 12 months to roughly four months after Tropical Storm Helene — emphasized “boots on the ground” outreach with local partners and national consultants. "We actually did it in a great way," Regina said, describing focus groups, surveys and interviews that reached more than 450 individuals and yielded more than 400 completed surveys.
The planning phase is intended to identify needs before selecting a project to receive implementation financing. Regina explained the financing structure as "up to $5,000,000, and it's a loan…it's for one-time project," and added the county would likely serve as an intermediary applicant while partnering with a local developer or nonprofit for construction and operations.
County and partner presenters said the process prioritized participation from people with direct lived experience of housing instability and incarceration; staff noted focus groups included people with lived experience, loved ones, service providers and community members. The county will present high-level findings and a draft housing investment action plan at a public meeting scheduled for Dec. 17 and said that public forum will be the last opportunity for community input before staff refines funding and project recommendations.
Next steps: staff will continue the needs assessment and return recommendations on potential projects and implementation partners as the county decides whether to pursue the MacArthur loan application. Commissioners added the Just Home update to the county's schedule of public engagement, with specific project proposals to come back for future action.
