News

City's listening sessions to focus on affordable housing

The city hosted workshops as part of the its Affordable Housing Summit in May 2024. The upcoming Council Conversations focused on affordable housing are designed to gather additional community input in the development of the City of Hendersonville’s Strategic Housing Plan. [CONTRIBUTED]

By Lightning Reports, Published: August 29, 2024

The city of Hendersonville is inviting the public to participate in a series of Affordable Housing listening sessions in September and October.

Sessions are designed to gather feedback directly from residents and those facing housing challenges, helping to identify the community’s housing needs. The insights collected will contribute to the development of the City’s Strategic Housing Plan.
The meetings are part of the city’s annual Council Conversation series, where elected officials engage with residents to better understand their concerns and help inform the city's governing and policy decisions.
Attendees at the Sept. 24 and 30 and Oct. 1 and 10 sessions will have the chance to win $50 Ingles gift cards to help offset travel costs and encourage participation from all segments of the community. Listening session times and dates are:

• 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Sep. 23, Trailside Brewing Co., 873 Lenox Park Drive; hosted by Council Member Jennifer Hensley. Intended audience: business community, real estate, developers.
• 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sep. 24, Veterans Services Center, 900 N. Main St., hosted by Council Member Jeff Miller. Intended audience: Aging community, veterans.
• 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Sep. 30, Star of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 105 N. Whitted St., hosted by Council Member Melinda Lowrance. Intended audience: Black community, faith community.
• 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, Blue Ridge Health, 2579 Chimney Rock Road, hosted by Mayor Pro Tem Lyndsey Simpson. Intended audience: Non-profits, service providers, health care, faith community.
• 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church St. Francis Hall, 208 7th Ave. W., hosted by Mayor Barbara Volk. Intended audience: Latino/Latina community, faith community. (Spanish interpretation services provided by True Ridge at the Oct. 10 session.)

All community members are invited to join any meeting, though facilitation will be tailored to the topics relevant to the intended audience groups.

The City Council has directed city staff and a volunteer steering committee to develop a Strategic Housing Plan. Following the adoption of the Gen H Comprehensive Plan, the Strategic Housing Plan will offer recommendations and strategies aimed at increasing housing supply, improving stability for renters and homeowners and developing policies that provide funding and subsidies to prevent homelessness.
The creation of the housing plan began with the formation of the steering committee in March 2024 and led to the Affordable Housing Summit in May, which featured renowned policy expert Shane Phillips. Over the summer, city contracted with the Development Finance Initiative of the UNC School of Government, which is conducting a needs assessment that help the city identify potential sites for affordable housing.
The housing plan’s creation is funded through a grant from Dogwood Health Trust. An online survey will be available during the meeting series to gather additional input from those unable to attend a listening session. To learn more visit www.hvlnc.gov/housingplan.