Community Partnership Spotlight: Appalachian Mountain Health

Joe Hart on November 5, 2024

Our mission to end homelessness would not be nearly as successful without the dedication of community partners like Appalachian Mountain Health. Each member of their Mobile Medical Unit is not only compassionate but also personally invested in addressing the individual needs and goals of our residents at Compass Point Village. Most importantly, the team understands the barriers our unhoused community members face when accessing and trusting healthcare providers.

“A lot of folks with an extensive trauma history have had different experiences with different kinds of treatment that have worsened their trauma,” says behavioral specialist Judi Schultz. “The thought of talking to a behavioral health clinician can be off-putting. That’s why I use an integrated model of therapy. It softens the process when it’s naturally integrated with their primary care.”

When residents come seeking help for physical needs, family nurse practitioner Summer Hettinger often introduces them to Judi whenever mental health becomes a topic. In most cases, it takes multiple introductions and interactions before residents feel ready to discuss these deeper needs.

“The longer we’ve been here, the more rapport we’ve been able to build,” Summer says. “At first, we had a lot of primary care appointments, but it’s slowly increased to addressing more needs as Judi builds relationships with each client and makes them feel comfortable. Now, residents are coming in, chatting about their trauma, asking for Hepatitis C treatment, and saying things like ‘Hey, my blood pressure is high’—all things they may not have cared about in the beginning. But now, we can care about that.”

(left to right) Colby, Carrol, Summer, Doris, and Judi

Appalachian Mountain Health visits Compass Point Village every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., providing essential medical and behavioral care from their fully equipped van and in our two dedicated provider rooms.

The rest of the AMH team plays a crucial role in building this trust with our residents. Medical assistants Carrol Rinaldi-Lemieux and Colby Reed, along with community resource advocate Doris Bennet, are often the first points of contact for residents, conducting check-ins, EKGs, blood pressure checks, and helping with Medicaid applications. While Summer can see up to 15 people a day for primary care, the team has dozens of short yet significant interactions.

“A lot of people stop by just to talk, ask questions about what we do,” says Colby. “Plus, all the relief donations we’ve been able to provide have helped people stick around longer and have more conversations before their appointments. Being able to pick through items they need while they’re waiting helps take their minds off some of the challenges they’re going through without feeling judged. They feel like they’re being helped by someone who cares about what they’re going through versus someone who’s just here for a 9-5 job.”

Our partnership with AMH began one week before Compass Point Village opened and became home to 85 of our community’s most vulnerable population. When Summer met with our Housing Director, Jenny Moffatt, we immediately knew their goals and approach to serving our unhoused community aligned perfectly with our Housing First model.

“It’s really cool at a year’s mark seeing someone come directly off the street and into a housed neighborhood.” Summer reflects. “This place and these Case Managers here, working together with Judi and our team–that’s our model. Listen to the person, see what their goals are, and help them reach those goals. That’s what I like the most about coming here.”

Judi, too, finds joy in collaborating with our case managers to find creative solutions for each resident’s needs, checking in with them at the start and end of each day, and always considering ways to improve, expand services, and reach more people.

“That’s what’s so special about this place and model. Housing these folks and integrating accessible services consistently improves outcomes. We are building a community, building trust, and we are a constant presence. I love it because this model—combining these resources—is really rare. Taking a chance on a high-acuity population that is typically difficult to reach takes adjustment, but over the past year, we’ve seen not only community support coming in but also strong relationships forming among the residents at Compass Point Village. They’re connecting in a way that’s meaningful and helpful to their overall well-being.”

One powerful example of this community spirit appeared the Tuesday after Hurricane Helene. Without power or water at their main offices, 15 other AMH providers volunteered to join the mobile team to set up a free walk-up clinic in front of Compass Point Village for everyone needing medical care. When they arrived, they were overjoyed to see residents checking in on one another, clearing fallen debris, and helping each other—just as neighbors do everywhere.

We’re grateful to Appalachian Mountain Health’s Mobile Medical Unit for stepping up in such a big way for our community. Their dedication ensures that all our community members receive the medical care they deserve, exactly when they need it.

Over 15 healthcare providers with AMH visited Compass Point Village the first Tuesday after Hurricane Helene to provide much needed medical care.

“From the darkness to the light”

Joe Hart on November 1, 2024

Content Disclaimer:

The following story contains content that may be triggering for some readers. Scenes include domestic violence, kidnapping, human trafficking, and rape.

Kathaleen is from Central North Carolina and is 49 years old. She’s one of the strongest and kindest people I’ve ever met.

When she was 16 years old, Kathaleen’s life changed when she was raped at a party by four white boys. At the time, her grandfather and father were both validated members of racist prison gangs, motorcycle clubs, and hate groups. The boys, who knew her family’s connections, said they did it as a punishment for speaking to a Black schoolmate earlier at the party. The same schoolmate found her after they left and stayed by her side until she got help.

“That changed my perspective,” says Kathaleen. “I didn’t want to be like those white boys, so I left home and started bouncing around. It was hard having no money, having to steal to eat, and not knowing where to sleep every night. I didn’t want to be a part of my family’s gang, but if I had stayed with them, I probably wouldn’t have been homeless.”

Kathaleen moved between friends’ homes and hotels for over 10 years until she was able to move in with her son’s father when she was 27. However, her new home wasn’t all that she hoped for and her son’s father became physically abusive.

“We had hard lives. It wasn’t a good environment. My son’s dad was an alcoholic and crackhead. There were just drugs and drugs, and when it’s around you all the time, in your face, what are you going to do? I felt like when I did drugs, I could breathe. Everything went away for about 20 minutes. And then I lost everything.”

Kathaleen and her ever-growing wall of beautiful artwork.

Kathaleen and her son were kicked out of their home with nothing but the clothes on their backs. The two of them spent the next five years uncertain where they would stay each night, sleeping behind churches in the country, in her car when possible, or on the couches and porches of people she knew.

In 2021, Kathaleen was offered a more permanent place to live with another ex-partner and his girlfriend, whom we’ll call Jane. At that point, her life seemed to be improving. She had a stable home, her son moved in with his girlfriend, taking some weight off Kathaleen’s shoulders, and her ex-partner was sent to jail for drug charges, leaving the house to her and Jane. However, she didn’t know that her incarcerated ex began a close friendship with another inmate in the same prison gang Kathaleen knew from her childhood, and the two of them, along with Jane, began planning the most malicious chain of events.

The first step was to introduce Kathaleen to their new friend from jail, whom we’ll call Mike. Kathaleen and Mike’s personalities seemed to match and they began talking as pen pals. To lure her further into a relationship, Mike told Kathaleen he wanted her to live with him at his new house near the beach when he’s released. This was a lie. In reality, Mike and Jane were planning to kidnap and traffic Kathaleen for sex and drugs. Back home, Kathaleen sensed a sudden shift in everyone’s intentions. Jane grew increasingly hostile, accusing her of stealing and insisting Kathaleen needed to go to rehab. When Kathaleen fought back, Jane persisted and said she didn’t have a choice.

“She said she was taking me to a special rehab… at the beach.”

It was then that Kathaleen realized her so-called “friends” wanted to harm and hurt her. Unfortunately, what followed was a nightmare. When Mike was released on bail, Kathaleen was kidnapped, sold, and sex trafficked. She was locked in a room for three days without access to a toilet, food, phone, or medication. Her trafficker subjected her to physical abuse and tried giving her prefilled syringes containing “hot shots”—dangerous, unknown drugs that can cause kidney and liver failure in hours. Kathaleen, determined to survive, avoided the injections by dumping them in the sink.

After months of being moved around motels and trap houses, Kathaleen’s son was fed up and began planning a way to get her out of the situation. While they were moving between motels, he told her to act like she fell in the bathroom. He then went out and convinced her traffickers that her blood sugar levels were too high and she collapsed. Jane told him she “didn’t want a body on her hands” and allowed her to go to the hospital. When she arrived, Kathaleen needed a way to secure her escape and checked herself into the hospital under a mental health crisis.

  • My Life at CPV
    “I would like to share with you how I feel about living here at Compass Point Village, as everyone knows this housing program is for the homeless and disabled, having disabilities is a struggle. It’s a life struggle. It can mean physical, or mental, even if you’re addicted to anything. Being a homeless woman and trying to stay sober on the streets is a life struggle and when you’re on the streets you are on your own. I lost my house, my car, my family, and nearly my life to addiction. It was by the Grace of God that I was accepted here – Compass Point -, and in the time that I’ve been here, since October 1st, my life has changed. Its changed in a very deep and special way. I have fought with being sober even while taking psych meds and even being on meds to help my cravings. CPV has helped me to a stable place.
  • A safe place so I can better myself.
    The staff is absolutely, amazing, you can tell that they actually care about you. They have security (RSAs) that help me, they help bring my groceries to me on my bad days, they even escort my guests up for me and they seem to never get mad or upset with me. My case manager checks on me to make sure I have what I need, the staff even comes and checks on me often. That is what makes a place special. CPV and Homeward Bound’s program has encouraged me to set goals that I never thought I would have for myself. I’m doing things I haven’t done in years. I have my own apartment, and my own space, which also helps me and my thoughts of how to be a better person. CPV has helped me from the darkness to the light. It shows me that I have friends now and that I’m independent. Because of CPV, I can hold my head high and know that better days are actually coming.” 
  •  

“It was pretty hard. I was devastated and didn’t know what to do. But I knew I was on my way. I wanted to get clean, I wanted my kids back, I wanted my life back.” 

Kathaleen spent the next two years trying to heal and recover, moving between medical and psychiatric units in 17 hospitals until she moved to Mission Hospital in May 2023. While there, a compassionate and caring nurse wanted to know more about her, concerned about why she wasn’t getting the help she needed. When Kathaleen explained her story involved sex trafficking and abuse, the nurse was shocked and immediately reached out to Helpmate, a domestic violence support agency in Asheville, and RHA Health Services. She didn’t want Kathaleen to leave the hospital without finding a safe place to live.

When Kathaleen was discharged from Mission, Helpmate paid for her to stay in a hotel for four weeks and contacted Homeward Bound for help with permanent housing and case management. Three months later, Kathaleen was approved for Permanent Supportive Housing and became one of the first people to move to Compass Point Village when it opened in October 2023.

“I was still having a lot of problems in my head. I don’t go out much, and when I do, I don’t go alone. When I would get on the bus, I was afraid of who’d be there. I was afraid I’d be taken back or killed. And those feelings and emotions were holding me back. Then, I moved here, and I’ve just blossomed!

One year later, Kathaleen’s physical and mental health has drastically changed. She’s developed a passion for painting and loves sharing her artwork with others. She’s been sober for two years, her diabetes is under control, she’s losing weight, and her IBS has completely disappeared. Kathaleen is especially grateful for the daily support from her best friend, Jake, who helps with chores and errands, and for her Case Manager, Sunni, who has been with her since day one.  

“Sunni is just wonderful! She sits down to talk with me to see how I’m doing. When she’s off and I text her, she texts or calls me right back. I once had an issue at the front desk, called Sunni, and she was here in five minutes. She is a bright, bright woman. I love her.”

As a survivor of domestic violence and sex trafficking, Kathaleen deeply values the safety and security provided by Compass Point Village. The presence of a front gate, a check-in desk, and on-site staff give her a sense of protection, something she once feared she’d never have. She urges the public to believe those who come forward as victims or survivors of human trafficking,

“I went to 17 hospitals and no one believed me. Take the time to understand what someone is going through. It could happen to anyone at any time.”

Kathaleen (right) and her Case Manager, Sunni

“We’re better than ever”

Joe Hart on September 25, 2024

Alex, Kortney, and their three boys decided to move to Asheville from Central Florida after Alex was offered a lead role in an upcoming solar farm. Even though Kortney was an established teacher and their children were surrounded by their friends, they all decided to support Alex’s new venture and create a new home in North Carolina together.

In March 2023, Alex and Kortney quit their jobs, sold their larger items, packed their cars with everything else, and started their drive North. But the drive was more complicated than they thought, and before they left Florida, Alex’s car lost two tires and its catalytic converter began having serious problems. Alex joked, “I’m convinced Florida is like the Twilight Zone and didn’t want us to leave.”

Eventually, they replaced his car’s tires and made it to their temporary home at an Airbnb in Waynesville. Knowing how much rental homes can cost, they only planned to stay for a few weeks while Alex’s job started up and they searched for a home.

Unfortunately, after several weeks of no updates, Alex was informed his new company had lost the contract in Asheville and would no longer be doing business in the city at all. Alex was distraught and explained to them, “I just took a leap of faith to move here and work with you guys.” The company replied, “Too bad. It didn’t work out for us, hope it works out for you.”

Even though his job stability fell through, Alex thought things might still be okay. They had a little bit of savings, and he was confident he’d find a job in time. However, things took another turn for the worse. Two weeks into April, Alex and his family were told they needed to leave their Airbnb early. The owner had a family emergency and needed the home.

Kortney & Alex

“We had to jump from Airbnb to Airbnb, which anyone who’s stayed in a rental in Asheville knows that’s not an economic thing to do, and it tore into our savings. Moving here with three boys and a dog put us back at the beginning of everything we built in the past 11 years.” Alex explained their longest stay at an Airbnb was 13 days and cost them $2,000.

Alex is an incredibly dedicated and proactive person. In January 2015, he joined the Air Force and served for 6 years as a structural engineer in the Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers, (known as the Red Horse Squadron) and later served in the Air National Guard in Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas. He’s also a father who would do anything to care for his family. For weeks, he grappled with the disappointment of letting his family down.

 “Anyone experiencing homelessness shares a set of emotional distresses.” Says Alex. “But when you’re doing it with a family and you have worked your butt off for things not to happen and things happen, that emotional distress jumps another level. When we were going through those tough times, my personality was getting tough to deal with, for everybody; my wife, my kids, and my oldest son who still lived in Florida. The situation was causing a lot of conflict.”

After exhausting all of their resources, Kortney and Alex reached out to Homeward Bound in May 2023. Two days later, Alex was approved for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program and was connected with his Case Manager at the time, Kristin. There, he found a beacon of hope.

“In my 49 years of life, contacting Homeward Bound has been one of my best decisions in life.” Says Alex, “They jumped on business and knew we were at the end of our resources. Within 48 hours, we were placed in a Super 8 while we waited for housing. I was grateful to have a place in the process, but we were worried about starting all over again.”

Alex and Homeward Bound both knew a hotel wasn’t the most ideal place for a family of his size, and Alex wanted to know how he could help speed up the process. He wanted to help look for homes on his own.

In June 2023, Alex began reaching out to local Airbnb owners to see if they’d agree to a long-term rental agreement. After a few no’s and no responses, Alex remained determined and eventually found an owner willing to agree to the proposal with zero hesitation. Homeward Bound’s Housing Team worked with the owner to create a custom rental agreement, and by July 2023—less than three months after Alex first contacted Homeward Bound—he and his family moved into a beautiful home near Leicester, NC.

Alex explained “I had so much negative energy in me, I didn’t react well to the amount of stress my family was dealing with. My oldest son and I’s relationship was strained. We were slowly sailing apart. My wife and I even talked about going our separate ways. Homeward Bound saved my relationship with my son and definitely played a part in saving my marriage.”

Over a year later, Alex and Kortney say they’re better than they’ve ever been. In the same month as their move-in, Alex landed a job as a solar technician with a better company with coworkers and bosses he considers good friends. Kortney now works at a middle school in Asheville and says she’s in love with her teaching more than ever. They’re grateful their children are growing up in a more holistic environment and are excited to become “Ashevillians.” In fact, they love their home so much that they’re now exploring the possibility of buying it from the owner.

“We really try to do things on our own, use our own resources to make things happen.” Says Kortney. “Unfortunately, life throws things at you, especially now with the world we live in. Even though we are two hardworking people who never quit and are constantly trying to be successful and work hard, we still have those bumps in the road.”

Alex and Kortney are incredibly thankful for the support of Homeward Bound and their former and current case managers, Kristin and Kat. Alex says that while the process was difficult, it strengthened his family’s bond, and he couldn’t ask for anything more.

Alex & his previous case manager, Kristin

“It puts a ‘little bean of hope’ in their day“

Joe Hart on August 9, 2024

Chayse is one of the most resilient people I’ve met, and her journey is a powerful testament to determination and self-growth.

After losing both of her parents at four years old, Chayse was placed in the child welfare system. At age 11, she started an active addiction and dropped out of school in seventh grade. When she turned 16, she emancipated from her guardians and began crisscrossing the country aboard trains with a group of young train hoppers collectively known as “Dirty Kids.”

As she traveled, she would stay anywhere she could, including hotel rooms and friends’ couches. If she was lucky, she and some of the other women she worked with would rent a home for two or three months before eventually being evicted. In 1999, Chayse moved to Asheville, living in what she said was a combination of Buncombe County Detention Center and whatever woods she found safe enough to sleep in.

“The biggest struggle of being homeless,” she says, “is that most people experiencing homelessness don’t believe they’re worth having a home. They have no self-worth. A lot of people experiencing homelessness feel hopeless. Everything to them feels like a battle.”

Chayse says homelessness has become so common in Asheville, that people have become “immune” to it. She’s even experienced moments where people have yelled and thrown half-eaten food at her from their cars as they drove past. “When you’re already hopeless and feel like nobody cares, and people shout at you and belittle you, it doesn’t help.”

While interviewing over coffee, Chayse pointed to an abandoned building nearby and said she used to sleep on its roof. It would take her an entire day to go downtown to AHOPE to shower, eat, and come back, and by then, she would feel so sick from withdrawal symptoms that she would feel like the trip downtown wasn’t worth it. She went on to add that the supplies needed to be homeless are incredible. “If it’s cold outside, you’ve got to stay warm. If it’s raining, you’ve got to stay dry. That means you’re carrying all of your things everywhere you walk, just in case it rains or starts to freeze.”

In the winter of 2022, Chayse struggled to stay warm while sleeping under Patton Street Bridge as two feet of snow piled up around her tent. She collected almost 30 thin fleece blankets given out that winter into a small tent with a tarp over it. Inside, she created a homemade Sterno Fuel Can using rubbing alcohol, cotton balls, and Vaseline.

“You would need to burn through three to four bottles of rubbing alcohol to get through the night, which is dangerous when you have tons of blankets, a tent, and a tarp over you.”

She explained how rubbing alcohol’s clean-burning properties were the best way to stay warm in a tent without producing carbon monoxide. “Some people have knocked themselves out or poisoned themselves, just to stay warm.”

Chayse explained how dangerous it is for a woman to sleep outside. While staying by a secluded river, she noticed her tent stakes kept coming loose throughout the night, seemingly without reason. Suddenly, the tent was thrown open by three men wearing ski masks. Chayse was luckily able to escape, but she’s never felt more scared. Soon, she began tying ratchet straps to trees or poles to raise herself within her hammock high above the ground, just because she wanted to sleep without being robbed or hurt that night.

After getting into criminal trouble, Chayse realized she needed a bigger change to get clean and off the streets, and when her lawyer offered the possibility of probation, she said no. She told them she wanted to go to Drug Court, despite the rigorous requirements.

Since then, everything has changed. In September 2023, Drug Court placed her in a halfway house, connected her with mental health and substance use resources, and set her on the path to earning her GED.

By February 2024, Chayse was sober, had secured housing through Homeward Bound, passed her placement test, and after 18 hours of Academic Preparation, received her GED!

Chayse was recently featured on WLOS! Read more of her story here.

“Homelessness is a trauma response,” she said. “When you’re battling with addiction, all it takes is one wrong decision, one event, to turn to the streets. I believe housing is a human right. But I also believe people need to address their mental health to stay housed.”

This belief, fueled by earning her GED, has led Chayse to pursue a career as a case manager for organizations just like Homeward Bound. In March, she started working as a Behavioral Health Technician at a mental health center for adolescents, enrolled in AB-Tech for an Associate’s Degree in Human Services, and completed the NC Certified Peer Support Specialist program.

“I want to help people who I know that are still homeless today. I want to help people who’ve been housed see a better way of life through healing their mental health, or work with people coming out of jail on probation who don’t have access to the resources they need to recover.”

Chayse, who lives at Homeward Bound’s Key Commons, likes to keep an active schedule. She has responsibilities in her recovery group, has two sponsees, and loves taking care of her dog, Tripp, who she considers a hobby. She’s also dedicated time to helping other residents at Key Commons learn about how detox and substance use treatment works.

“They’ll ask me questions about being clean, my work, detoxing, and I always take the time to answer those important questions. It puts a ‘little bean of hope’ in their day. And the only thing a bean needs to grow is water.” Since moving to Key Commons, Chayse has helped two people enter a detox program and says both are still sober with one celebrating two months the day after we interviewed.

Chayse wants to encourage Asheville, and other communities impacted by homelessness, to treat people on the street with respect. She hopes that the city opens more public community centers, where individuals don’t have to feel excluded and have access to the same compassion and resources given to others.