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Here at Homeward Bound of WNC, we continue to be amazed and humbled by the hope, strength, and positivity we see in our community. We currently have 10 displaced households in our Supportive Housing programs, and we are working tirelessly to ensure we can give these people a home for the holidays.
Meet Billy
Billy was homeless for twenty years after being born and raised in Asheville. His homelessness began when a family member passed away, causing him to lose his home. While on the street, Billy experienced trauma, and the only way he knew to stay safe was to become angry and fight. He became a regular client at our AHOPE Day Center.
Billy was housed through Homeward Bound first at the Woodfin apartment program in 2016, designed to serve our most vulnerable chronically homeless clients. Here, he began working with his case manager, Ryan, to deal with community living and coping mechanisms after being outside for so long. As both Billy and the staff continued to struggle with his behavior in this setting, the case management team determined Billy would benefit more in his own space, and we found Billy a mobile home along the Swannanoa River.
In his new home, Billy began to thrive. “Billy was great about his place, kept it super clean and was responsible about paying his bills. He was very respectful to us and his neighbors and appreciative of our services”, says Ryan. Billy found stability there for over four years.
“I loved fishing in that river next to my house.”- Billy
So what do you do when the same river that brought peace becomes one that brings devastation?
When the recent Helene storm hit Western North Carolina, Billy was in the line of impact. “I stayed in the house till the bitter end. I saw my porch detach from my house and watched my favorite TV and race bike that was gifted to me float down the river from my hallway.” Billy had to climb a tree to escape flood waters and stayed there for over six hours before he landed in the water and was saved by a neighbor who saw him struggling to hold onto debris.
Despite this recent traumatic experience, Billy resorts to the resiliency strategies he’s learned from his Homeward Bound case management team over the years to stay positive and focused on the future possibilities available to him. “I used to be a very angry person. Now, I’m really laid back.”
Billy is a two-time cancer survivor and is now undergoing treatment again. “After running into all his health issues, the fact that he’s in his 50s and is now still alive is humbling for him”, says Ryan. Billy’s journey is a true testament that housing is healthcare, and that even after finding stability for so many years, everything can change in an instant due to circumstances outside our control. He is currently living in a hotel while our Housing team works urgently to find him a new home.
Homeward Bound has housed more than 2,650 unique individuals since 2006. When you give to Homeward Bound, you’re supporting a proven strategy to end homelessness in our community. Your partnership forever changes lives.
Please consider making a tax-deductible gift this year to partner with us to rebuild for people like Billy. Now, more than ever, we believe in a community that works together with respect and empathy, in the spirit of hope and recovery.
Together, we can end homelessness. YOU are the key.
Warmly,
Dr. Simon Dwight
Chief Executive Officer
Homeward Bound of WNC
12/3/24: Update on Billy
As we worked to find housing options for Billy, his case manager had the chance to take him back to his home before the storm for his FEMA inspection.
We are thrilled to share that Billy is moving into his new home this afternoon!
Thanks to your support, we’re making significant progress in housing the 10 remaining displaced clients in our Supportive Housing programs.
Your Gift Multiplied
Does your employer offer a matching gift program? Find out today and double the impact of your donation!
Every dollar contributed to Homeward Bound leverages $4 in government funding. Contributions support each of Homeward Bound’s programs, including the AHOPE Day Center, Outreach Services, and our Supportive Housing programs.
Join the Key Society
Individual donors, along with businesses and organizations, who contribute $1,500 or more annually become members of our Key Society Giving Circle. Key Society members are the lifeblood or our organization, providing leadership funding for Homeward Bound’s ongoing work to end homelessness. Join today to begin receiving invitations to exclusive receptions where you can mingle with like-minded people and community leaders, learn insider updates about Homeward Bound’s work, and receive early notification and invitations to a variety of social and informational events.
Home for the Holidays
Your donation will help bring folks like Billy home for the holidays.
Campaign Options
Homeward Bound Annual Fund
Donations to Homeward Bound’s annual fund provide vital funding that impacts the operation of all of the programs and people we serve. Annual fund gifts fill the gap that grants don’t cover and support top priorities like the Welcome Home Donation Center and AHOPE Day Center, as well as research, community outreach, and many salaries. Since annual fund gifts are meant to be spent in the year given, they make an immediate impact. No matter how much you give, every dollar works hard to provide the services necessary to fulfill the mission of ending homelessness in our community.
Housing is Healthcare
Retired Asheville physician and philanthropist Dr. Brown Crosby has been an advocate for marginalized members of the community for many years. With a $250,000 gift made by Crosby to Homeward Bound, the Dr. Brown Crosby Housing is Healthcare Fund was established to help cover some of the costs associated with housing. The fund also helps us better weather the fluctuations in government grant awards.
Payment Options
Pay by Check
Make checks payable to:
Homeward Bound of WNC
PO BOX 1166
Asheville, NC 28802
IRA Charitable Rollovers
A win-win for taxpayers and Homeward Bound – if you are 70 ½ or older, you can make an IRA transfer of up to $100,000 directly to Homeward Bound and claim it as a tax-free IRA Charitable Rollover gift by following these guidelines:
- You must be 70 ½ or older when you make the gift and it must be from a traditional or Roth IRA. Retirement plans such as 401(K), 403(b), SIMPLE or SEP accounts do not qualify.
- Transfers can count toward your required minimum distribution.
- You may contribute up to $100,000 per individual, per year. Thus spouses or partners can each give $100,000 from separate IRA accounts.
- Distributions must be made directly to Homeward Bound of WNC and completed by Dec. 31.
- The IRA charitable distribution is not included in your taxable income so there is no charitable deduction available.
- The IRA charitable distribution may be used to fulfill a pledge.
Contact Jessie Figueroa, Resource Development Director, to donate through your IRA (828) 793-0072 or email Jessie@HomewardBoundWNC.org
Stock Donation
It’s simple and easy. When you donate stock to a charity, you’ll generally take a tax deduction for the full fair market value. Would you prefer to donate bonds or mutual funds? The same benefits apply. Click here to view a guide on how to gift stock to Homeward Bound.
Contact Jessie Figueroa, Resource Development Director, to donate stock at (828) 793-0072 or email Jessie@HomewardBoundWNC.org