Help Asheville Understand our Housing Needs

ASHEVILLE, NC — Housing is an urgent priority for the Asheville region, especially since Tropical Storm Helene. According to FEMA, 1000 North Carolina homes were destroyed by the storm and 73,000 were damaged.

To help rebuild resilient homes that meet the needs of people of all ages, AARP recently sent out a questionnaire to its members in Asheville to better understand people’s opinions about housing. Most of the respondents were at least 50 years old.

Here is a summary of the responses to the questionnaire:

· Most respondents expressed a strong desire to remain in their neighborhoods as they age.

· Many reported being forced to move due to rising housing costs.

· There is broad support for reducing barriers to add housing units to existing buildings, though some concerns remain about preserving a neighborhood’s character and the impact of new development.

We need your help!

AARP is committed to helping Asheville rebuild from Tropical Storm Helene with resilience and age-friendly practices, and you can help! Here are three ways you can become part of a campaign for change:

1. You can share your views and concerns directly with Asheville City Council as they consider important changes.
   
2. You can record your views to help AARP advocate on your behalf using this video collector. (HINT: It’s easy and fun, we promise!)
   
3. You can watch this brief video to learn more about AARP’s vision for a resilient recovery with age-friendly Asheville.

Visit the Community Resilience section in the

AARP Livability Library for links to articles and resources for local planning and responses to natural disaters, extreme weather, pandemics and more.

Thank you for being part of the conversation and for helping shape Asheville’s future.