Homeward Bound of Western North Carolina is expanding its participation in Asheville-Buncombe’s community-wide Code Purple Initiative this winter, increasing its emergency shelter capacity from 20 beds last year to 90 beds this year.
Code Purple provides emergency overnight shelter during periods of dangerous winter weather, helping ensure that people experiencing homelessness have a warm place to sleep when temperatures drop. This year, Homeward Bound’s trained staff and volunteers will operate the program at the Salvation Army building rather than the AHOPE Day Center.
Homeward Bound Grant Director, Sarah Newberry, shares, “We are grateful to Homeless Services Director, Alanna Kinsella, who worked closely with the Salvation Army to solidify a facility partnership for Code Purple this fall.”
Building on last year’s program, Homeward Bound will serve single men, couples, and individuals with pets, addressing a longstanding gap in emergency shelter options for people who might otherwise have to choose between seeking shelter and staying outside.
From November through April, Homeward Bound expects to provide an estimated 7,200 bed stays, serving more than 150 unique individuals through the initiative, expanding access to emergency shelter during the winter months.
