The Asheville-Buncombe Homeless Advisory Committee is a joint committee of the Asheville City Council and the Buncombe County Commission.  It exists to provide oversight for implementing the Five Year Strategic Plan on Homelessness in Buncombe County. by sharing, applying, and tracking strategies that make a permanent and measurable difference in homelessness in Asheville and Buncombe County – no matter what it will cost the taxpayers. 

Information related to this committee is presented on the Asheville City website.  It appears that there are two “at-large” Buncombe County citizen member seats on the committee. 

One of those two seats is currently vacant.

Money is no object when it comes to local government’s compassion for the homeless. First Tuesday is not opposed to lending a helping hand when needed; however, enabling homelessness to consume a seemingly endless supply of taxpayer funds is not a fiscally responsible policy. Indeed, we must not slam the door on those seeking a hand UP. Still, anyone familiar with the concept of recovery knows that sometimes an individual needs to hit rock bottom before taking responsibility for their decisions and consequences.  Please don’t take our word for it.  Ask a recovering addict. Providing a soft velvet safety net is not ALWAYS the best way to help. Let’s guide this committee to HELP the homeless instead of only enabling them.

The meeting schedule for this committee has been unpredictable over the last year. City and County websites sometimes report that meetings are held on 4th Tuesdays each month, 4th Fridays monthly or 4th Friday every other month. Looking at recent meetings that weren’t canceled, it appears that the committee usually meets now on the 4th Friday. Those interested should check the committee’s web page before attempting to participate in their meetings.

Before they moved to an all-remote format, the committee had typically met in person at the Housing Authority Board Room, 165 S. French Broad Avenue.

The committee’s webpage states that there are several subcommittees to focus on specific topics related to homelessness. The site also provides dates/times for meetings of those sub-committees. However, those meetings simply stopped during 2021.

The Housing Subcommittee is focused on expanding the affordable permanent housing inventory. This subcommittee meets on the first Tuesday of each month from 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. in the Asheville Housing Authority’s boardroom at 165 French Broad Ave  Asheville NC 28801.

The Services and Resources Subcommittee works on (1) improving the effectiveness of case management, (2) Safety, emergency, and transitional assistance services, (3) Promoting and supporting accessibility of health care services, and (4) Prevention and diversion. This subcommittee meets on the second Friday of each month at 3 p.m. in the United Way Conference Room at 50 South French Broad Ave in Asheville 28801.

  • The Community Mobility Subcommittee addresses education, employment, and transportation.
  • The Housing Subcommittee is focused on expanding the affordable permanent housing inventory.
  • The Services and Resources Subcommittee works on (1) improving the effectiveness of case management, (2) Safety, emergency, and transitional assistance services, (3) Promoting and supporting accessibility of health care services, and (4) Prevention and diversion.
  • The Community Mobility Subcommittee addresses education, employment, and transportation.

Scroll to the bottom of the committee’s web page to view meeting materials.