The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 10.4 million Americans spend half or more of their income on housing, forcing them to choose between shelter, food, and other basic needs. For those experiencing homelessness, these choices become even more difficult. Hunger and homelessness often intensify one another, creating a cycle of physical and emotional challenges.
Organizations like Food Connection, Equal Plates Project, and World Central Kitchen are working to change that, and we witness their impact every day.
Food Connection believes access to nutritious food is a human right. Their mission to rescue surplus food, repack it into meals, and distribute it to the farthest reaches of our community is integral to fighting food insecurity in WNC. Our AHOPE Day Center wouldn’t be able to serve our unhoused neighbors as effectively without their tireless support.
Equal Plates Project believes in a connected community where local farmers thrive by providing healthy, accessible meals to everyone, regardless of barriers. Since October 2023, they have included our community’s most vulnerable members by providing daily meals to Compass Point Village. On top of that, their team is committed to building genuine relationships with our residents.
World Central Kitchen also understands the profound role food plays in restoring hope. After Hurricane Helene struck and Western North Carolina faced power and water outages, they immediately stepped in to coordinate daily meal deliveries to Compass Point Village, ensuring that hope remained alive for all.
Thank you for standing with us as we continue the fight to end hunger AND homelessness together. Learn more about how hunger and homeless intertwine here.
Equal Plates’ Operations and Marketing Managers, Katy and Rachel with Prestige Subaru Outreach Coordinator, Kim.
Joe Hart is the Communications Specialist for Homeward Bound of WNC. He loves telling our client's stories and encourages everyone in the community to get to know the people living near them who are experiencing homelessness. Reuniting individuals with their community is the first step to helping end homelessness everywhere.
Our measure of success generally is determined by measuring the percentage of clients in our permanent supportive housing programs who remain housed 12 months after placement. Given the many variables that impact chronically homeless clients, and consistent with other studies, we count as “housed” those who have graduated from supportive housing to other housing, those who move to health care facilities, those who have moved out of the area, and can no longer be tracked; those incarcerated, and those who have died. For example, at The Woodfin, of the 37 clients who have been housed over five years, 92% remain housed. Seventeen clients live at The Woodfin now; five have “graduated” to other housing; two have moved to nursing facilities; seven have died, and two have been imprisoned. Only four clients have been evicted.
