Henderson County will need about 10 new homes over the next five years to meet current demand and projected growth, according to an analysis released by the city of Hendersonville.
The report raises a problem that already affects those looking to rent, buy or stay in the area: there are more families looking for a home and fewer options available.
The lack of dwelling It's a long-standing problem. The study concluded that, over the past decade, household growth in Hendersonville has progressed at nearly twice the rate of new home construction.
“That gap reduced the availability of rentals and properties for sale to less than 2%,” he specifies.
El Hurricane Helene This worsened the situation. According to state estimates, some 126 homes were damaged in western North Carolina.
In Henderson County, 4,600 homeowners and 2,500 renters had been approved for FEMA individual assistance as of October 21, 2024.
In that context, among the housing crisis and storm damageThe city will present the Strategic Housing Plan on May 27th.
Housing Summit in Hendersonville
The Housing Summit 2026 will take place next Wednesday in the city center. The following will be presented there: Strategic Housing Plan.
The event is free, will feature simultaneous interpretation into Spanish, and is open to all county residents. It will take place from 5:30 pm to 7 pm in the auditorium of Hendersonville High School, located at 1 Bearcat Blvd.
The plan was developed based on the housing needs analysis conducted by the Development Finance Initiative (DFI) of the University of North Carolina, as well as community meetings and feedback from Henderson County residents.
According to reports, the event will also include information on new initiatives related to affordable housing and spaces for public comments.
This will be the second housing summit organized by the city of Hendersonville. The first was held in 2024 as part of the initial strategic planning process for housing.
Working families and senior citizens among the most affected
Hendersonville has an older population than the state average, and much of the housing need is concentrated among older adults who live alone.
Approximately 45% of the city's households are made up of older people 65 years of age, compared to approximately 26% average in North Carolina. Many of them face difficulties remaining in their homes or finding affordable options.
“There is a wide variety of households with housing needs, from working families and people just starting their working lives to seniors living in unaffordable or substandard housing,” Allison Justus, communications director for the city of Hendersonville, told Enlace Latino NC .
The pressure is also affecting local workers and young families. A decade ago, a family earning around $40 a year could buy an average home in Hendersonville.
Today, one would need an annual income of around $120 to access the same market. Furthermore, the average price of a home in the city currently exceeds $400.
Helene exacerbated the housing crisis in low-income neighborhoods
Before Helene, several of the lower-income areas in Hendersonville were already more exposed to flood risk, compared to other households. The analysis shows that areas where the average household income is less than $40 a year coincide with sectors located near flood zones.
The hurricane exacerbated that reality. In some areas, the water overflowed into zones traditionally considered at higher risk, causing damage in neighborhoods where many families were already struggling to find affordable housing.
The impact affected houses, apartment complexes, public housing, and mobile home parks. The latter, also known as mobile home parks, are the type of housing typically found in flood-prone areas.
In addition, they represent about 15% of Henderson County's housing inventory and are often one of the few more affordable options for low-income residents.
The combination of limited rental availability, high prices, and damage from Hurricane Helene left many families with fewer housing options in the county. This pressure is part of the context the city seeks to address with its Strategic Housing Plan.
>>> City of Hendersonville “Housing Needs Assessment” Analysis
PODCAST
After the storm
A year ago, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. The Latino community responded with something stronger than the storm: solidarity.
🎧 In this episode, learn how Latino organizations transformed crisis into resilience.
▶️Press play to listen!
Republish our stories for free on your website or newspaper. We follow the Creative Commons license. Click the box and follow the instructions.
