The City of Asheville is proposing an amendment to its Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Action Plan and inviting residents to provide feedback. The 30-day public comment period will run from May 15 through June 14.
The proposed amendment aims to accelerate housing recovery for Asheville homeowners impacted by Tropical Storm Helene by reallocating federal disaster recovery funding to support single-family home repair and reconstruction efforts. The proposed changes reflect ongoing, months-long feedback from residents, community partners, and City Council emphasizing the urgent need to help families safely return to their homes.
“Helping residents repair and return to their homes remains a top recovery priority for Asheville, a sentiment clearly supported by our community,” said Bridget Herring, Recovery Coordinator. “This amendment increases funding for single-family housing recovery, allowing us to support more households affected by Tropical Storm Helene right now. Simultaneously, we are continuing to seek further resources to address our infrastructure and broader long-term recovery goals.”
Under the proposed amendment, the City would move $9.2 million previously designated for the Affordable Multi-Family Housing Construction Program to the State of North Carolina’s Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program. An additional $10 million would also be redirected from the City’s CDBG-DR Infrastructure allocation, bringing the total allocation for the Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program to $22.2 million, enough to fix an estimated 55 to 65 homes.
The amendment also includes:
- Clarification of eligible construction types under the Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program
- Updates regarding mitigation set-aside uses within the Infrastructure Program
- Clarification of national objective citations throughout the Action Plan
- Addition of public service as an eligible activity under the Workforce Development Program
Beginning May 15, residents may review the proposed Action Plan Amendment online through the Asheville Recovers website under the “Action Plan and Amendment” section. Physical copies are also available upon request at Asheville City Hall, located at 70 Court Plaza.
A public hearing on the proposed amendment will be held during the Asheville City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 9. Information about the meeting will be available on the City of Asheville website.
Community members who are unable to attend the public hearing are encouraged to submit written comments and questions by Sunday, June 14 via email to cdbg-dr@ashevillenc.gov.
For additional information, contact the City of Asheville CDBG-DR team at cdbg-dr@ashevillenc.gov or by mail at 70 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC 28801.
The City of Asheville is committed to ensuring accessibility for all residents. Individuals requiring accommodations due to a disability or physical impairment should contact ADA Coordinator Brad Stein at bstein@ashevillenc.gov or (828) 259-5687 by Wednesday, June 3.
About the City of Asheville’s CDBG-DR Program
On January 16, 2025, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development allocated $225,010,000 in CDBG-DR funds for the City of Asheville’s recovery from Tropical Storm Helene. CDBG-DR is a federal disaster recovery program that provides funding to communities affected by major disasters. These funds must be used to address unmet disaster-related needs, particularly in housing, economic revitalization, and infrastructure restorations.
Learn more about the City of Asheville’s CDBG-DR program and read the City’s Action Plan at ashevillerecovers.org/cdbg-dr.