Complaints and Appeals

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If you disagree with a decision about your application, or have a concern about how the Optimist Ventures program is being run, you can submit a complaint or appeal.

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Complaint — service, communication, timeliness, or accessibility concerns

Appeal — challenging a decision (denial, eligibility, award amount, termination)

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How to submit: Email jkaplan@ventureasheville.com or call 828-258-6101. You can submit anonymously, though we may not be able to fully investigate without a way to reach you.

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Include your name and contact info (unless anonymous), a description of your concern, relevant dates, your application number if you have one, and any supporting documents.

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What happens next: You'll get written acknowledgment within 5 business days, and a written decision within 15 business days — explaining the outcome and the reasoning behind it. Your appeal will be reviewed by someone who wasn't involved in the original decision. If you're not satisfied with the outcome, you may request a final review by the City of Asheville.

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Discrimination concerns: If you believe you were treated unfairly based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or family status, you can also contact HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity directly at (800) 440-8091.

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Fraud, waste, or abuse: Report suspicions to us at jkaplan@ventureasheville.com / 828-258-6101, or directly to the HUD OIG Fraud Hotline at (800) 347-3735 / hotline@hudoig.gov.

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No one will be penalized for filing a complaint, appeal, or fraud report in good faith.