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The first cold blast hits Asheville to start the week. Teens to low twenties means trouble for the area’s homeless population and presents a unique challenge for caregivers and organizations because most homeless people don’t have access to media. Most are not aware that a storm or severe weather event is almost upon them. Following is a story that illuminated this for me and a list of homeless resources.
Getting the word out
ASHEVILLE — By Monday night, bread aisles had been besieged. Milk was going fast. And people preparing for what forecasters were calling an imminent winter storm were snatching up snow gear.
Fast forward to Friday afternoon, about a day before the start of a snowfall that could reach a foot or more, and the people in most dire need of those resources still had no idea what the graying sky had in store.
The staff of BeLoved Asheville, a charity based out of a downtown house, spent much of the week driving around the city in an old school bus handing out coats and other cold-weather resources to the city's homeless. Many of them knew nothing of the latest weather forecasts.
"I've talked to at least five or six people between last night and today who don't know that there's a storm coming at all," said Adrienne Sigmon, a BeLoved worker and driver of the supply bus.
This is not uncommon, according to the Rev. Amy Cantrell, who helps run BeLoved along with Sigmon and a small core team. People experiencing homelessness often don't have ready access to television, computers or the internet.Ways to support Asheville’s homeless population
In need of help now? You can always dial 211 to reach the United Way’s “First Call for Help,” which will list organizations serving people in need of help with housing, food, and utility bills and other costs. It’s free and available in multiple languages.
We rounded up all of the resources available to the homeless population during the winter (and some throughout the rest of the year) including day centers, emergency church shelters, meal support + food pantries, medical care + more. Plus, how you can lend a hand if you want to support Ashevillians in need.
🏠 Housing
Aura Home | St. Matthias Church Parish House, 50 S. French Broad Ave. | 771-6979 | Serves women veterans
DYK: Of the 84,000 women vets in N.C., over 6,000 are homeless? Aura Home offers housing for women veterans, plus training in jobs, budgeting, reintegrating into society after the military + more.
Want to support? Apply to volunteer or donate here.
Eblen Charities | 50 Westgate Parkway | 255-3066 | Runs a rental and mortgage assistance program and connects people in need with emergency shelter + assistance as well as other services. Eblen also runs the Wicked Weed Brewing Help at Home Emergency Assistance Program and a food assistance program (see information here).
Want to support? Find out how to donate, volunteer, or partner here.
Homeward Bound | 19 N. Ann St. | 252-8883 | Serves the unhoused | Homeward Bound runs WNC’s only day center, AHOPE, as well as Room In the Inn (a women’s shelter), and works to find permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness.
Want to support? Volunteer, donate, or see a list of needed supplies here.
Salvation Army | 204 Haywood St. | 253-4723 | Emergency shelter plus other services, including food pantry + financial assistance
Want to support? Find out how to give here.
Saturday Sanctuary | First Presbyterian Church, 40 Church St. | 253-1431 | Serves the unhoused | Provides safe space on Saturdays from October through March when AHOPE day shelter is closed. Open 1–4 p.m.
Want to support? Sign up for a shift here.
Steadfast House | 20 Twentieth St. | 259-5364 | Serves women, children, and female veterans | The ABCCM provides a safe place for women and children, plus mentorship, training and short- and long-term goal fulfilment that moves residents towards self-sufficiency.
The ABCCM is also currently developing Transformation Village, which has the goal of taking every woman, child + family off the street. Currently, they have a 24-acre site and are planning a building that will be triple the capacity of Steadfast House and will include a community center, children’s education center, job training center + more.
Want to support? Sign up to volunteer at Steadfast House here, and donate to Transformation Village here.
Trinity Place | 12 Ravenscroft Dr. | 253-7233 | Serves runaway + homeless youth | Offers outpatient mental health services, respite services + foster care services
Want to support? Donate and see other ways to help here.
Veterans Restoration Quarters | 1329 Tunnel Rd. | 259-5333 | Serves male veterans | The ABCCM’s residential veterans program offers housing, education, training + more for male veterans.
Want to support? Find information on volunteering here.
Western Carolina Rescue Mission | 225 Patton Ave. | 254-1529 | Serves the unhoused and people in recovery | This Christian-based rescue + recovery center has been serving meals and providing beds since 1981. It also offers a free addiction program for residents, as well as job training. Their Abba’s Love and Abba’s House program specifically serve women who are experiencing homelessness or abuse.
Want to support? Donate here, drop off needed items, or volunteer.
🍲 Meals + supplies
12 Baskets Cafe | Kairos West Community Center, 610 Haywood Rd. | 232-2149 | Prepared food, produce + coffee from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. daily. Organized by the Asheville Poverty Initiative.
Want to support? Find information here on donating, volunteering + more.
BeLoved Free Markets & Meals | 39 Grove St. | 242-8261 | Provides free meals and food to those in need. Contact for details. BeLoved also has a clothing closet, laundry services + internet services in their Mutual Support Resource Center.
Want to support? Get involved, volunteer or donate here.
Catholic Charities Food Pantry | 50 Orange St. | 255-0146 | Groceries + supplies for people in need. Open on Wednesdays from 12:30–4:30 p.m. (call to confirm).
Want to support? Find out how to donate or volunteer here.
Crisis Ministry | 24 Cumberland Ave. | 259-5300 | Serves Mon. – Fri. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Serves hot meals and provides food boxes and a clothing room. Also provides utility + rental cost assistance.
Want to support? Sign up to volunteer here.
Downtown Welcome Table | Haywood Street Congregation, 297 Haywood St. | 575-2477 | Lunch, which is sometimes cooked by local chefs, is served on Wednesdays and Sundays with up to four seating times.
Want to support? Make a donation here, or, if you’re a restaurant or business interested in partnering, click here.
God’s Outfitters | Haywood Street Congregation, 297 Haywood St. | 575-2477 | Browse used clothing at this clothing closet, which is designed to be like a positive retail experience for those it serves.
Want to support? Find information here on how to donate your clothes.
Green Opportunities | Arthur R. Edington Education & Career Center, 133 Livingston St. | 398-4158 | Lunch is served between noon and 1 p.m. Monday-Thursday and breakfast is served Friday from 10-11 a.m. for a suggested $5 donation (no one is turned away). Green Opportunities also provides job + skills training and other programming.
Want to support? Find out how to donate, volunteer + more here.
Hearts with Hands | 667-1912 | 850 Warren Wilson Rd., Swannanoa | Help with poverty, disaster relief + more through providing supplies, including food and medicines
Want to support? Donate money or supplies for “Boxes of Hope.” See a supply list here.
Lunch at the Crossroads | First Baptist Church, 5 Oak St. | 252-4781 | Lunch served on 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at noon. Also on site: a clothing closet + a food pantry.
Want to support? Find information on volunteering (cooking, serving, cleaning, tutoring + more) here.
MANNA Food Bank | 627 Swannanoa River Rd. | 299-3663 | MANNA serves the 16 counties of Western N.C. and provides and is the largest domestic hunger relief organization in the country. Find one of their pantries near you here, or call their Food Helpline at (800) 820-1109.
Want to support? Find out how to volunteer or give here.
Rosetta’s Kitchen | 116 N. Lexington Ave. | 232-0738 | 11 a.m.–10 p.m., closed Sunday | Rosetta’s Everybody Eats! program offers a sliding scale rice and beans plate from $2-$6 (anything paid over $6 pays it forward).
Want to support? Pay your next meal forward.
Salvation Army | 204 Haywood St. | 253-4723 | Food pantry + emergency shelter plus other services, including financial assistance
Want to support? Find out how to give here.
Western Carolina Rescue Mission | 225 Patton Ave. | 254-1529 | Serves the unhoused and people in recovery | This Christian-based rescue + recovery center has been serving meals and providing beds since 1981. It also offers a free addiction program for residents, as well as job training. Their Abba’s Love and Abba’s House program specifically serve women who are experiencing homelessness or abuse.
Want to support? Donate here, drop off needed items, or volunteer.
💉 Health
BeLoved Medical Services | 39 Grove St. | 242-8261 | BeLoved has a team of Street Medics, plus clinics for foot care while on the streets, CPR and Narcan training + more. See the full calendar here and check out all of BeLoved’s projects here.
Want to support? Get involved, volunteer or donate here.
Buncombe County Health and Human Services | 53 S. French Broad Ave. | 250-5500 | Provides low-cost health services (at the Health Department), plus public assistance for low-income families, including crisis intervention, food assistance + energy assistance (help with heating bills, etc.)
If you need help this winter (or anytime), Asheville has many resources + programs. We’ve put together info about affordable housing + volunteering locally – and will continue to dive into these important issues.
Pass this on to a friend who might need help this winter. Or share it from our Facebook or Instagram. Because we’re stronger when we all come together.
Thanks again, stay safe and warm out there!