ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Asheville city leaders are weighing a difficult question as recovery from Tropical Storm Helene continues: Should limited recovery dollars go toward rebuilding damaged homes or constructing new affordable housing?
That debate took center stage during a City Council agenda briefing Thursday, where council members wrestled with how to balance urgent home repair needs against long-term affordable housing shortages across the city.
Staff presented a proposal to shift $19.2 million in federal disaster recovery funds into the state’s Renew NC home repair and reconstruction program, including $10 million currently allocated for infrastructure work and $9.2 million from the city’s affordable multifamily housing construction program…