Deadline Approaches for Asheville’s Supportive Housing Plan at Former Ramada Inn Site

The City of Asheville is exploring a new proposal for developing the former Ramada Inn site into a permanent supportive housing solution for the homeless population. However, this ambitious project, years in the making, is facing another hurdle as the funding deadline fast approaches.

The Proposal

The proposal introduces a plan to transform the former Ramada Inn into 113 permanent supportive housing units. The aim is to allocate 50 of these units to veterans in need of housing while another 50 are for individuals transitioning from chronic homelessness. However, the city’s Mayor, Esther Manheimer, admitted that it is an “extremely challenging” task to provide such a service. She outlined the cost factor, the need for service providers as well as safety considerations for the surrounding neighborhood.

Manheimer raised doubts about whether the current developer is the most suitable fit for the city and the project’s objectives. The focus is to transition about 100 people experiencing homelessness into stable housing. But to succeed, there must be service providers on the ground. Homeward Bound is currently named as a potential partner for delivering these supportive services should the project proceed.

The Role of Homeward Bound

Jessie Figueroa, Resource Development Director with Homeward Bound explained what their involvement would entail. It would encompass case management and support for housing stability, she outlined. There would be a dedicated team of case managers helping each resident overcome barriers to stable housing. This includes managing finances, setting goals, and learning how to be good neighbors. Figueroa emphasized the catered approach to each individual client’s needs.

The Need for Affordable Housing

Figueroa acknowledged the urgent need for more affordable and permanent supportive housing in the community, citing that out of 739 individuals experiencing homelessness in the past year, over 200 were unsheltered.

Funding Deadline Ahead

The project is on a tight timeline, as the developer, Friendship for Affordable Housing, faces a September 20th deadline to secure the necessary funding or risk losing the property from the owner, Stormfield Capital. This crucial discussion about the site’s city council was not scheduled in Tuesday’s council meeting agenda.

The city has guided the proposal vetting process to the Continuum of Care Board, who voted to recommend the city council award a $1.5 million contract with contingencies addressing CoC identified issues. This matter will be addressed at the city council’s meeting on September 10th.

As the city of Asheville watches the clock tick towards the deadline, the community awaits anxiously for decisions that will significantly impact the city’s homeless population.