Buncombe County is advancing major decisions on economic development, transportation planning, and financing tools without using widely accepted methods for identifying and preventing additional displacement of residents. Research and best practice show that displacement follows measurable patterns – including rising rents, loss of lower-cost housing, and increased investment pressure – but the County is not yet using evidence-based tools to guide relevant policy choices. As a result, well-intentioned decisions risk accelerating housing instability rather than preventing displacement before it occurs.