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.
Jeff is one of the toughest people I’ve met. He spent years taking care of himself—first as a kid on the streets of Buffalo, New York, then in the Army repairing tanks, and later as a plumber. He was used to standing on his own. But when his health began to decline and hospital bills piled up, things started to fall apart. Multiple strokes and heart attacks forced Jeff to quit plumbing, and without a steady income, it became harder to keep up with basic needs and maintain his own housing.
The first time Jeff became homeless, he was recovering from a stroke in the hospital. While still healing, he was kicked out of his home by someone he considered a friend—a person who had once promised Jeff a permanent place to stay. While living at the Veterans Restoration Quarters, that same friend reached out, saying he had lost his job and needed help caring for his home and daughter. Grateful to leave the shelter and willing to give him a second chance, Jeff accepted the offer. But once again, he was kicked out—this time during Hurricane Helene.
The instability took a toll on Jeff’s emotional and physical health. After the Veterans Restoration Quarters (VRQ) was damaged during the storm, Jeff had no choice but to live in his car. The stress of being 70 years old, in declining health, and facing housing insecurity was overwhelming.
Fortunately, Jeff contacted Buncombe County Veteran Services and was connected with Homeward Bound’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program and his Case Manager, Cora. Jeff says Cora was “the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Still, accepting help wasn’t easy. Jeff grew up in a low-income neighborhood, where he learned early that survival meant relying on yourself.
“I’m the type of person who helps people. I don’t ask for help,” Jeff says. “I’m from the streets where you don’t ask for anything. You take what you want and fight to keep what you have. It’s pretty simple.”
Though he knew he needed support, it was hard to accept it. The turning point came through his Case Manager’s patience, consistency, and genuine care.
Jeff
“She would not give up,” Jeff says. “She would tell me, ‘You deserve this help.’”
Once Homeward Bound moved Jeff into his apartment, things began to change.
“It’s tough not to have a place to lay your head—somewhere safe and secure,” says Cora, who’s seen other Veterans, Jeff included, become more relaxed and at ease once they moved into their own homes.
Today, Jeff lives a peaceful life. He enjoys caring for his home, listening to Black Sabbath, tending to his plants, cooking whatever he wants, and being with his friends.
“I get to shower every day, I get to clean up, I get to make my bed—and yes, that’s important to me, that I make my bed every day.”
Jeff has since been successfully exited from the program. He credits his stability to Cora’s support and kindness.
“She could train people; she just can’t teach the compassion she has—because she has a world of compassion.”
Jeff’s story reminds us that needing help doesn’t make you weak—and when support is given with patience and respect, it can change everything.
We are writing to share the news of the passing of our community’s beloved Jim Lowder. Jim was a dedicated and passionate leader, and the Homeward Bound family is deeply saddened by his loss. For 13 years, Jim served as a pillar of our organization’s success as our Development Director, Interim Executive Director, and Director of Strategic Gifts. His contributions to our organization were invaluable, and the relationships he developed often turned into lasting friendships for so many of us. You may read his obituary here.
We will miss Jim’s unique ability to offer compassion, hope, and joy to those we serve, often reminding us that we are all part of one human family. Upon his retirement in 2024, Jim shared,
“Working to end homelessness has been part of my life since I finished college in 1969…It has been a tremendous honor working with the residents, staff, volunteers, and donors here with Homeward Bound, especially developing best practices both with our programs and with our fundraising. I also came to appreciate the enormous generosity of the Asheville area community.”
Jim changed this organization and the lives of both staff and people experiencing homelessness not just because of what he did, but because of who he was.
Jim’s final project with Homeward Bound was leading our Home is Key Capital Campaign, raising over $16 million for Compass Point Village, Buncombe County’s first motel conversion into 85 units of permanent supportive housing.
Jim’s family has scheduled a memorial service on Saturday, August 30 at 1pm at First Congregational United Church of Christ, located at 20 Oak St. Asheville, NC 28801. In lieu of flowers, they have requested donations to the James Lowder Fund for Ending Homelessness.
James Lowder Fund For Ending Homelessness
With blessings from him and his family, we have established the James Lowder Fund for Ending Homelessness to honor Jim’s legacy. This endowment fund supports the future of Homeward Bound of WNC and continues Jim’s passion to provide stable housing and support to our most vulnerable neighbors in Western North Carolina.
Endowment Match:Two generous donors have provided a gift match of $20,000. Every dollar raised will be matched to maximize the impact you can make to ending homelessness in our community.
*Please note the “James Lowder Fund for Ending Homelessness” in the memo line.
Homeward Bound offers our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Jim during this time. A memorial service is being planned for a later date to be determined, and Homeward Bound will share that info as we receive it. We welcome the opportunity to connect about Jim’s legacy, the memorial fund, or the impact Jim made to your own efforts to prevent and end homelessness.
The Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care approved its 2025-2028 strategic plan to address homelessness in Asheville and Buncombe County. Read more about the Continuum of Care here.
Tiffany has fought hard to find her sense of self-worth and belonging. She remembers how isolating it felt to be raised with two older brothers who were the stars of her family’s eyes, and no matter how hard she tried, she was treated as an outcast and black sheep. Sick of the neglect, Tiffany decided to run away from her small town. Without a support system, she became homeless at 17 years old.
By age 30, Tiffany was chronically homeless, spending each day of the last three years of her life outside. Over time, this worsened her feelings of shame and isolation.
“I was accustomed to thinking I was nothing,” shares Tiffany. “I wasn’t doing much of anything that I was proud of. Now, I’m doing good and I know it.”
Tiffany was first introduced to Homeward Bound in 2010, not long after moving to Asheville in search of a second chance. She remembers meeting Amanda Thomas, a long-time Homeward Bound staff member who became her first Case Manager. “Amanda has seen how far I’ve come—she’s seen the beauty that’s come out of my story.”
Tiffany moved into her first home in 2011, but transitioning out of homelessness isn’t always linear. Like many of us, her sense of stability depended on her surroundings—and the right housing placement made all the difference. With continued support and a home that truly meets her needs, Tiffany has found her footing. Thanks to Homeward Bound’s HACA program, she has now been stably housed for nearly two years.
Tiffany and her art room.
“Homeward Bound never gave up on me. They never did. And it’s been nothing but great for me. I’ve got a sense of belonging. I have a sense of security. I call it my sanctuary because I get to make decisions in my life today. I get to say who comes in and out of my house. And having that freedom and independence is just absolutely the best feeling. A euphoric feeling comes over me every time I put my key in my lock.”
Tiffany has found joy in her home. She loves cooking in her kitchen, relaxing on her back porch, creating collage art, and spending time with her dog and best friend, Mystical. In addition to having her own space, Tiffany’s relationship with her current Case Manager, Zoey, has been transformative. Tiffany shares that it took time to build trust, especially given a difficult relationship with her mother.
“She showed me how to present myself, how to advocate for myself. Zoey tells me, ‘Tiffany, it’s okay to say no. No, period.’ I never thought I could say that. I always felt like I had to please somebody.”
“You know I had to include my girl, Tiffany.”
With this new confidence, Tiffany feels stronger than ever—able to speak to her property manager, navigate appointments, and live on her terms. She wants to use her stability to become a peer support specialist and use her story to help others, especially women escaping domestic violence or navigating life after homelessness.
“Whatever comes my way, if I can help them—that’s what I want to do. I want to give back because it was so freely given to me. I want to shout my story to other women and tell them they can do it too. There are some beautiful, strong women out here who deserve as much as I got and more.”
Above all, Tiffany wants Asheville to see the humanity in every person experiencing homelessness.
“These people out here on the street—they’re amazing people, and they deserve a chance. What you see isn’t always the whole story. Take the time. Sit down and talk to one of us. I think it would change your whole outlook.”
Tiffany plans to set up an art display next to an alcove on a street in downtown Asheville where she used to sleep. She hopes to turn a part of her journey into something inspiring.
In the last four years alone, Homeward Bound has grown significantly. We launched our Home is Key Capital Campaign, opened Compass Point Village, and expanded our housing and homeless services programming to meet the needs of our community. None of this progress would have been possible without the individuals, initiatives, businesses, and fellow nonprofits who also call WNC home.
Homeward Bound’s 2025 Welcome Home Luncheon featured “Creating Community, a short film by Katie Damien of Angry Unicorn Entertainment that emphasizes the importance of partnerships in our work.
Norma’s story was originally shared in Winter 2023.
Today, we would like to share the story of Norma, a resident who moved from the streets into housing in October 2023. Norma’s journey from a sleeping bag on the sidewalk to a home at Compass Point Village is a testament to the transformative nature of supportive housing and community support.
Norma’s life took a tragic turn in 1992 when her daughter was murdered. The pain of that tremendous loss led her to drug use. As a result, she lost her house and her support system. She also distanced herself from her other five children in an attempt to protect them from her lifestyle. She used drugs to numb the pain of what felt like one loss after another. After years of life on the streets, Norma’s health was deteriorating. She was in and out of the hospital several times before it was determined that she needed heart surgery. The doctors told Norma “your heart valves are not pumping, you should be dead.” Despite Norma’s complicated and often painful life, her faith remained unshaken. She made a promise to God that if she survived her heart surgery, she would stay substance-free. True to her word, she woke from surgery with a smile on her face and has remained clean since.
Norma’s path to housing began at Homeward Bound’s AHOPE Day Center when she enrolled in the Coordinated Entry process and it was determined Compass Point Village was the best housing intervention for Norma’s individual needs.
“I’m just grateful, SO GRATEFUL, that Compass Point Village chose me to be a resident.”
Norma thinks Compass Point Village is “a beautiful place” and “everybody here will help you in any way they can.” Norma believes in giving back to the community she now calls home. She wants her new neighbors to know “when they are down, I want to give them a laugh, when they need to talk, I got ears to hear.” Norma’s Case Manager, Erin, has been instrumental to her success, providing assistance with food, medicines, and doctor’s appointments. Norma describes Erin as sweet, kind, and always ready to help.
Norma’s journey home is a powerful reminder of the profound impact safe, stable housing can have for individuals experiencing homelessness. In housing, Norma has found community, support, wellness, and more.
Update on Norma: 5/1/2025
We’re thrilled to share that Norma has graduated from Compass Point Village and transitioned into our Scattered Site program. Case Managers, volunteers, and residents at Compass Point Village all joined in to help Norma move into her brand-new apartment.
We’re proud of Norma and all she’s accomplished, and we’re deeply grateful to our community for supporting Homeward Bound and helping make Compass Point Village a success. Her journey is a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact housing can have for those experiencing homelessness. It’s a testament to Homeward Bound’s mission—and why our work must continue. Thank you.
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.
