Access to Affordable Housing
Thrive is dedicated to tackling housing issues on multiple levels. 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.
Our collaboration with the City of Asheville and Buncombe Counties aims to shape better affordable housing policies. We advocate for the city to disaggregate data to understand who benefits and who is left out by current policies.
Thrive acts as the backbone of a collective impact initiative by connecting agencies serving vulnerable groups relying on federal rental assistance to access housing. As the leader of the Buncombe Rental Assistance Collaborative, we share staff and resources with five agency partners.
Our direct service program, the Landlord Tenant Partnership, helps households with federal housing choice vouchers secure market-rate housing. This increases opportunities for economic mobility and better outcomes for families. This year, the Landlord Tenant Partnership will assist at least 20 households in moving.
Landlord-Tenant Partnership Program:
Playing a Crucial Role in Housing Stability
The Landlord-Tenant Partnership (LTP) is a proven program that empowers families moving from public housing communities into mixed-income neighborhoods, supporting social mobility for children living in poverty. LTP recruits and compensates landlords accepting federally funded Housing Choice Vouchers and offers tenants coaching and support for long-term success.
Who do we serve?
We serve families transitioning from public housing to mixed-income neighborhoods and landlords new to working with Housing Choice Vouchers.
The Landlord-Tenant Partnership Program simplifies accepting Housing Choice Vouchers for landlords and increases tenant success. This program is a collaboration between Thrive Asheville, the Asheville Housing Authority, tenants, and rental property owners.
Our Program Provides Resources and Support
Increased acceptance of Federal Rental Assistance through landlord incentives.
Education for landlords and tenants to overcome challenges in transitioning to private market rentals.
Direct service support for landlords and tenants.
Buncombe Rental Assistance Collaborative:
Access to Housing Across our Community
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 Assistance 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.
“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.””
ANALYZING CITY INVESTMENTS IN 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.””