Thrive is dedicated to tackling housing issues because adequate housing is essential for a resilient, equitable future. We believe in addressing the root causes of housing instability, which is why we focus on local government policy changes while also engaging in hands-on programmatic work.
Thrive Asheville is partnering with Buncombe County to increase access to housing for individuals who were incarcerated. We are collecting and amplifying the experiences of people directly impacted by this issue, and engaging the community in surfacing solutions.
We are leveraging our deep connections to community organizations to facilitate discussion groups with 250+ residents who are closely impacted by this issue. Are you interested in hosting a discussion group or participating in one? Contact Kristal Perez.
We are also sharing a survey that is accessible to every member of the community:
Together, this input will shape a community driven plan to guide the county for the next five years - and to potentially unlock $5M in funding from the MacArthur Foundation.
The Landlord Tenant Partnership successfully demonstrated that providing adequate support allows vulnerable residents to access safe and stable housing opportunities, enabling them to thrive.
However, a significant gap remained—there was a lack of dedicated programming for families enduring the harsh realities of deep poverty who did not qualify for other community support. This gap was the reason we initiated the Landlord Tenant Partnership program, which helped 78 households access affordable housing. We recognized that supporting these families is essential for promoting social mobility within our community.
It is crucial for the City, County, and other community stakeholders to continue championing efforts that empower residents to secure safe and affordable housing. Funders need to prioritize initiatives that connect very low-income families with viable housing opportunities, thereby uplifting our entire community.
Based on our experience, we suggest the following actions:
1. Establish a community tenant navigator.
2. Establish a community landlord navigator.
3. Provide landlord incentives and damage mitigation support.
4. Allocate funding to assist families in overcoming barriers that might prevent them from maintaining safe, clean, and affordable housing.
Adequate financial support eliminates barriers to keep a stable and clean housing.
Education for landlords and tenants helps overcome challenges in transitioning to private market rentals.
Direct service support for landlords and tenants increase the chances of a successful rental experience.
Together, we can change the future of our community by securing access to housing for our community’s most vulnerable groups — children, survivors, and the unhoused.
We recruit and incentivize landlord participation, and provide education and support to tenants to create successful landlord-tenant relationships. Thrive serves as the backbone of the BRAC project, organizing, coordinating, and guiding all partners toward successful collaboration and outcomes. Over 28 months, BRAC partners will assist 150 vulnerable households in securing safe, stable housing, building on the successful principles tested in LTP.
Thrive Asheville and our partners have facilitated the moves of more than 100 households, impacting more than 200 individuals. Through the Buncombe Rental Assitance Collaborative, Thrive is committed to relocating at least 150 households with federal housing choice vouchers by December 2024.
The Buncombe Rental Assistance Collaborative agency partners:
Pair landlords and tenants efficiently with increased support.
Set expectations for agencies, landlords, and tenants, including a commitment to resolving issues when they arise.
Foster accountability and problem-solving with shared data.
Engage in ongoing education for agency staff and clients to enhance tenant readiness.
Contact our partners at the websites below:
“The BRAC partnership is opening doors to properties that survivors of domestic violence would not have been able to secure otherwise. As a result, families who had to flee their homes have quicker access to safe and affordable housing.””
Thrive staff analyzed data comparing the City’s approach to investing in affordable housing with the needs of our community, working alongside city staff, housing experts, and input from the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee.
“Thrive’s data collection and analysis is adding capacity to our staff by organizing and presenting the data in new ways, and will inform our policy revisions and our Affordable Housing Plan process.””