OUR MISSION:

Preventing and ending homelessness in our community through permanent housing and support

What is Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)?

Homeward Bound’s Permanent Supportive Housing Program provides safe, stable homes, paired with long-term intensive case management services, to highly vulnerable, chronically homeless individuals. People who have experienced homelessness for at least a year while struggling with one or more disabling conditions are considered chronically homeless. These individuals typically need a higher level of care due to their complex and long-term health conditions such as mental illness, substance use disorders, and physical disabilities, and need extra support to stay in housing.

What is Rapid Re-Housing? 

Rapid Re-Housing is a program that provides short-term rental assistance and case management services for eligible individuals for up to two years with the goal of helping individuals experiencing homelessness obtain housing quickly, increase self-sufficiency, and remain in their housing placement long-term. This program is offered without preconditions (such as employment, income, absence of a criminal record, sobriety, etc.), and the resources and services provided are always tailored to the needs of each individual.

We believe

that housing is a human right, integral to self-worth and dignity.

Housing First

Homeward Bound uses the evidence-based national best practice Housing First approach. Housing First is a proven approach to reducing homelessness and outperforms other approaches. The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) stated: “Study after study has shown that Housing First yields higher housing retention rates, drives significant reductions in the use of costly crisis services and institutions, and helps people achieve better health and social outcomes.” Supportive housing programs (Permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid Rehousing) using a Housing First approach have high rates of housing retention.

Woodfin

Woodfin was Homeward Bound’s first permanent supportive housing facility, established in 2016. It was home to 18 of Asheville’s most vulnerable community members. It’s 90% housing success rate led us to open Compass Point Village 7 years later.

Key Commons

This project serves individuals living below 30% of annual median income (AMI) with significant case management needs. Tenant rents enable this recently renovated multifamily property houses 13 people to be self-sustaining.

Compass Point Village

Compass Point Village, the largest program of its kind in WNC, provides 85 permanent supportive housing apartments and on-site behavioral health services, case management, and job training for individuals who’ve experienced chronic homelessness in our community.

We believe

in the absolute value and worth of every single human being.

The Cost of Homelessness

Homelessness is felt by everyone in a community.

The chronically homeless is a highly vulnerable and medically fragile population whose overuse of public services such as crises centers, hospital emergency departments, ambulances, and law enforcement costs, on average, $30,000 to $50,000 per individual per year.

The estimated cost of Permanent Supportive Housing is less than $14,000 per individual per year, as much as 70% less than what it costs for this vulnerable population to live on the streets.

We believe

that homelessness is a solvable problem.

AHOPE: the Front Door to Homeless Services

Almost everyone experiencing homelessness in our area comes through AHOPE, which serves as the starting point for finding housing and a hub of information and connection to other community resources. The key to keeping people in housing is our trained, compassionate, and nonjudgmental staff. Our case managers are trained in diversion, harm reduction, motivational interviewing, and Homeward Bound’s own case management standards of excellence. AHOPE’s Day Center also provides showers, mail receipt, phone service, and a place to rest, have a cup of coffee, and store personal belongings until housing is established.

Our outreach services complement AHOPE by meeting people where they are: in the woods, under bridges, on the street.

We believe

that all services should be offered with respect and empathy, in the spirit of hope and recovery.

Volunteer

A variety of opportunities provide volunteers a meaningful experience in support of our mission to end homelessness.

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Be a Business Sponsor

Partnering with Homeward Bound as a business sponsor is a win/win for our clients and your organization.

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Donate $

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.

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