Asheville police launch dedicated Housing Team for public housing communities

The Asheville Police Department will launch a dedicated Housing Team in July, assigning six experienced officers exclusively to Housing Authority of the City of Asheville communities. Each officer will be tied to a specific housing site, with shifts focused on long-term problem solving, resident contact and recurring quality-of-life calls rather than a citywide patrol.

Officers will be able to patrol on foot, by bicycle or in vehicles depending on the need. The team will not replace housing staff. APD officers will work alongside Housing Authority employees and help inspect vacant apartments during turnover periods to deter unauthorized entry.

Asheville continues to face the opioid crisis inside public housing, including three bodies found in vacant apartments at Pisgah View Apartments over the past six months, with all three deaths suspected to be overdoses. HACA has about 144 vacant units across its communities, a number that makes empty-unit monitoring and regular police contact a central part of the new plan.

The city council approved the housing police arrangement on April 14, 2026, when it signed off on a memorandum of understanding with HACA for supplemental APD personnel and a $33,000 budget amendment tied to the agreement. The broader effort is a one-year pilot that could cost up to $200,000 annually for coverage across HACA neighborhoods.

HACA’s portfolio includes Pisgah View Apartments and Hillcrest Apartments. Pisgah View sits within walking distance of Carrier Park and offers one-, two- and three-bedroom units, while Hillcrest is a family-oriented community one mile from downtown Asheville with one- through five-bedroom townhome-style homes.

HACA announced a reduction in force affecting 34 employees, or 21% of its workforce, on April 7. Asheville has used police contracts for public-housing patrols for several years beginning in 2015.