Housing

LOSRC Services

LOSRC works directly with local governments, non-profits, and developers to enhance housing availability while safeguarding naturally affordable housing stock in the region. We aspire to act as Thought Leaders by actively sharing innovative ideas and insights within our field. Additionally, we aim to serve as Regional Conveners, bringing together diverse stakeholders to address common challenges and create impactful change. Our objective is to be a go-to resource for reliable information and solutions, supporting and empowering our community. The staff promotes these efforts through the following services:

Grant writing to support housing development, rehabilitation, repair, and water and sewer infrastructure;
Grant administration and compliance support;
Research and data analysis;
Technical assistance;
Serving as a liaison between federal, state, and local governments as well as developers;
Disseminating information regarding affordable housing development.

LOSRC Current Projects

LOSRC is dedicated to addressing housing issues through a range of impactful projects. Some of our key initiatives include:

Supporting the housing needs of the recovery community in collaboration with Land of Sky’s INspire program:
- Secured funding from Dogwood Health Trust to lead regional collaboration focused on expanding housing options for those in recovery.
- Pursuing an expected $1.5 million grant from NC Commerce to construct new recovery housing and offer rental assistance to those in recovery.
Leading the WISH Collaborative (WNC Initiative for Supportive Housing), a four-year grant-funded effort to address the housing and transportation needs of older adults, adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities, and adults with traumatic brain injury.
- Pursuing funding from HUD, Dogwood, and others to carry out home modifications that can allow individuals to age in place and help keep individuals with high needs safe in their home.
- Targeting workforce development funding to build up the region’s construction labor pool.
Spearheading a 15-county-wide collaborative project, centering on housing feasibility;
Hosting an annual Regional Housing Forum, fostering vital discussions and solutions;
Establishing various “COGWorks” educational opportunities, dedicated to relevant housing topics;
Engaging with regional partners to establish a regional housing task force;
Maintaining a comprehensive regional Affordable Housing directory;
Ensuring efficient CDBG grant administration to support housing initiatives.

Latest Local Housing Announcements

Housing Needs

Housing stands as a critical issue in our region, with a significant number of households facing cost burdens. When households allocate more than 30% of their income towards rent, mortgage, and other necessities, they are considered cost-burdened. The latest American Community Survey presents a clear picture of the share of renters and homeowners grappling with this cost burden in our community.

State of LOSRC Counties' Housing Cost Burden
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A significant number of our local employees are struggling to afford suitable housing. To shed light on this issue, the North Carolina Housing Coalition has compiled valuable information, offering a snapshot of the income levels associated with various jobs in our region and how these earnings align with the cost of housing. For a comprehensive understanding, we encourage you to explore our region's data county by county and job by job through the interactive dashboard, available by clicking the following link.

North Carolina Housing Coalition County Fact Sheets

WAGES
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The data presented in the previous reports offer valuable insights into the pressing housing needs within our region, with a particular emphasis on the lower-income brackets. The 2021 regional Housing Needs Assessment delves further into the numbers, shedding light on the substantial shortage of housing supply, both for rentals and sales. The graphic below provides a clear visual representation of the estimated housing units required, categorized by county and income brackets, up to the year 2025. This assessment serves as a crucial guide in formulating effective strategies to address the housing crisis and fulfill the needs of our community members.

Housing Needs Assessment

Housing Gaps by County
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Resources

Funding Spreadsheet

LOSRC’s regional Affordable Housing Directory is updated annually, and provides an overview of affordable housing in Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania counties. Asheville also compiles an affordable housing guide, available in their website.

Essential Regional Reports

ARHC HOME-ARP Allocation Plan (Draft)

The findings highlight a gap of 6,115 rental units for our 50% AMI population as well as regional leadership prioritizing the need for construction of new affordable housing units.

LOSRC prepared the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium’s 2020-2024 Strategic Housing and Community Development Plan, which includes a good overview of government and non-profit housing initiatives and services, as well as funding resources.

Fair Housing

Housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or family status (presence of children) is illegal and unjust. Many communities have a fair housing policy and complaint procedure. LOSRC can also assist with fair housing complaints and compliance.

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