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Faith leaders and advocates urge county action on affordable housing and renter aid
Summary
Multiple public commenters at the Nov. 4 Transylvania County meeting recounted local housing struggles, called for more rental assistance after the storm and described faith-based and nonprofit collaborations addressing affordable housing.
Speakers representing faith groups, Habitat for Humanity and local nonprofit coalitions urged the Transylvania County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 4 to accelerate work on affordable housing and renter supports.
Diane Livingston, an ordained Episcopal deacon who said she serves on the NAACP religious affairs committee, described the Brevard Transylvania Housing Coalition and its partnerships with Habitat for Humanity and Sharing House. "We learned about heirs property…we have also learned about landlords who consistently go up on rent, and whose properties are not safe," Livingston said, and asked commissioners to collaborate with developers, nonprofits and state partners to make housing more affordable.
Jan Melman, who said she and her husband moved full time to Transylvania County in 2017, recounted faith-based volunteer efforts with Saint Philip's Episcopal Church and Brevard Davidson River Community Presbyterian Church that contributed a Habitat build and argued stable housing improves school performance and job retention.
Abby Glass, a children, youth and family minister, described multiple moves she made while working locally and credited community supports for helping her find permanent housing—but warned that many still struggle. "Many of our neighbors, friends, and colleagues are struggling to find a place that they can call home," Glass said.
Sam Stites of Just Economics of Western North Carolina urged commissioners to press state representatives for greater rental assistance after what he described as a shortfall in the state relief package, saying the allocation falls far short of renter needs and risks a wave of evictions.
The board listened and acknowledged the testimony during public comment; no immediate policy change or formal motion on housing was made at the meeting.
