Buncombe County’s largest renter has made a significant decision that could affect whether vulnerable residents will have access to affordable housing.
Hawthorne Residential Properties owns and rents more apartments in Buncombe County than any other landlord. Until recently, they did accept rental assistance vouchers to help some residents pay their rent. However, the high volume renter has decided to change their policy and no longer accepts rental assistance as a qualifying income source for prospective renters.
According to Kate Pett, director of Thrive Asheville, a nonprofit dedicated to making rental assistance work for both landlords and tenants, a renter's source of income should not keep them from being able to rent a quality apartment.
“It’s just not fair that some of these vulnerable families can’t use the money that is available to them and to landlords so they can access safe housing,” Pett says.
Among those most affected by the reluctance of a growing number of landlords to accept renter’s assistance are a broad variety of likely renters.
“That includes families who are seeking safer neighborhoods for their children, veterans, families fleeing domestic violence, the elderly and the disabled," Pett says.
Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer answered concerns about what the city (or county) can do about the decision to not accept rental assistance, and suggested a legal solution would need to come from the state.
In a statement released by the mayor, she says, “Cities in North Carolina lack the authority to require private landlords to accept rental assistance.”
It’s a reality that some in Raleigh acknowledge, including state Representative Lindsey Prather, who represents Buncombe County. Speaking with News 13, Rep. Prather referred to the growing issue as a question of discrimination based on source of income. However, as no state law currently exists to include “source of income” as a protected classification, any action to protect renters may depend on the willingness of state legislators, like Prather, to address the issue.
For landlords, the decision not to accept rental assistance may be more of a result of market forces that have increased the demand for quality rentals. The growth in demand with a limited supply of units has allowed landlords to be more discerning in who they rent to while allowing market forces to determine rental rates. Market forces and lack of availability have supported a recent increase in rental rates, further making it more difficult for some to find affordable housing.
News 13 spoke with a representative from Hawthorne Properties but they did not respond to our request for a comment.
Whether or not this issue is forwarded in the state legislature will likely be determined during the current legislative session.