ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Six Asheville police officers will soon begin full-time patrols in public housing communities as part of a yearlong pilot program designed to improve safety, reduce crime and strengthen relationships with residents.
Beginning in July, the Asheville Police Department’s newly restructured Housing Team will conduct dedicated patrols throughout Housing Authority of the City of Asheville communities, working closely with residents and Housing Authority staff to address quality-of-life concerns before they escalate into larger public safety issues.
The initiative comes as Asheville continues to confront the effects of the opioid crisis and follows several overdose-related deaths in public housing this year, including three at Pisgah View Apartments, according to the Asheville Police Department.
Unlike traditional patrol officers who respond to calls throughout the city, the Housing Team’s six officers will be assigned exclusively to HACA neighborhoods. Each officer will be responsible for a specific housing community and will work designated shifts focused on long-term community engagement and problem-solving.
The officers are not new hires. Instead, APD selected experienced officers for the specialized assignment after the department’s most recent Basic Law Enforcement Training graduates entered field training, allowing those positions to be reassigned.
Police said residents can expect to see officers using a variety of patrol strategies rather than relying solely on vehicle patrols. While officers may patrol on foot, by bicycle or in vehicles, depending on the situation, APD said the team’s primary mission is building relationships with residents and Housing Authority site managers while strategically addressing neighborhood safety concerns.
“The newly reformed Housing Team establishes dedicated officers for those communities,” APD said in a statement. “Housing Team members are entrusted with a specialized assignment to improve safety, reduce crime, and enhance quality of life in Asheville’s public housing communities through sustained engagement, strategic enforcement and collaborative problem-solving.”
In addition to responding to criminal activity, officers will work alongside Housing Authority employees to identify recurring public safety issues and develop long-term solutions.
Housing Authority officials said officers will also accompany staff during inspections of vacant apartments, providing an additional layer of security and helping deter unauthorized entry.
The Housing Authority has about 144 vacant units across its communities. Officials said the apartments are secured after residents move out and are checked regularly throughout the turnover process, but acknowledged that preventing unauthorized access remains a priority.
A Housing Authority spokesperson said the opioid epidemic has affected its communities just as it has neighborhoods throughout Asheville.
“Overdose incidents are not unique to Housing Authority properties,” the spokesperson said. “Like many communities across Asheville, our neighborhoods have been impacted by the broader opioid crisis. Our focus is on doing everything we can to improve resident safety, support staff and prevent unauthorized access to vacant apartments.”
In addition to increasing police presence, Housing Authority officials said site managers completed Narcan administration training through Buncombe County last year, and Narcan is now available at every housing community. Staff members are instructed to call 911 immediately whenever they encounter a suspected overdose or other medical emergency.
Police recently released data showing officers have responded to dozens of overdose incidents and drug investigations at public housing communities during 2026. APD also confirmed three overdose-related deaths at Pisgah View Apartments this year, saying the Housing Team will work proactively with residents and Housing Authority staff to address ongoing concerns before they become larger problems.
Housing Authority officials said residents have welcomed the expanded police presence.
“Our residents have been enthusiastic about this move because they want their families to live in a safe environment,” the spokesperson said.
The one-year pilot program begins in July. City and Housing Authority officials have not yet announced how the program’s effectiveness will be measured, but both agencies said the goal is to improve neighborhood safety through sustained police presence, collaboration and proactive problem-solving.