OUR VISION
We envision a day when the poor and vulnerable among us will no longer be ignored but treated with compassion and decency. We envision a day when any homeless person, regardless of psychiatric disabilities, substance abuse problems, medical issues, or financial poverty, can move directly into service-enriched permanent housing and become a productive member of society.
OUR VALUES
We believe in the absolute value and worth of every single human being.
We believe that housing is a basic human right, integral to self-worth and dignity.
We believe that homelessness is a solvable problem.
We believe that all services should be offered with respect and empathy, in the spirit of hope and recovery.
We believe that we are successful as an organization when one individual takes one step forward on the journey home.
Our mission is working with others to end the cycle of homelessness.
Homeward Bound began in 1988 as Hospitality House, opening its doors to serve the growing homeless population through long-term emergency shelter. In 2006, Hospitality House became Homeward Bound of WNC, and shifted its focus from managing homelessness with shelter to ending homelessness with permanent housing, utilizing the best practice model of Housing First.
We’re the community leader in best practices to end homelessness, and have been using the Housing First model since 2006. The Housing First model has been proven to be the most effective, cost-efficient, sustainable, and humane intervention to homelessness. Essentially this means people experiencing homelessness are housed as quickly as possible and offered case management services to provide support and resources to help maintain housing stability.
Since 2006, we’ve moved over 1,800 men, women, and children out of cars, camps, and shelters into permanent housing. We have an 89 percent retention rate in housing.
Board of Directors
President
Vann Vogel
Vice President
Angie Cullen
Treasurer
Chris Youngblood
Secretary
Mae Creadick
Donna Ball
David Greiner
David McCartney
Brian Methvin
Ryan McCullough
Carol Rovello
Henry Watts, Jr.
Our Staff
Administrative Staff
Executive Director: Meredith Switzer, M.Ed 828-774-9555
Finance and Operations Director: April Lambert 828.424.0578
Financial Assistant: Peiyin Chen 828.424.0578
Grants Management Director: Jenny Simmons 828.258.1695
Program Director: Emily Ball 828.380.2850
Director of Resource Development: Eleanor Ashton 828.713.3071
Volunteer Engagement Director: Sharon Blythe 828.776.9741
Strategic Gifts Officer: Jim Lowder 828.337.4623
Welcome Home Program Manager: Ashley Campbell 828.777.1886
Donor Relations Manager: Ruby Koch-Fienberg 828.785.9840
Our Staff
Program Staff
Alanna Housing Case Manager 828.747.2599
Alexa Housing Specialist 828.768.2458
Alix Housing Case Manager 828.772.2846
Amanda S. Scattered Site Team Lead 828.767.9207
Amanda T. Housing Case Manager 828.776.1840
Anne Housing Case Manager 828.273.4810
Ashleigh Homeless Case Manager 828.777.8262
Benjamin Housing Case Manager 828.772.7072
Bren Woodfin Safety Officer 828.505.3606
Caroline Housing Case Manager 828.772.5773
Catherine Housing Case Manager 828.772.2845
Chelsea Woodfin Safety Officer 828.505.3606
Christian Homeless Case Manager 828.782.0016
Clayton Housing Case Manager 828.747.9276
Debbie Housing Specialist 828.777.6293
Donna Housing Case Manager 828.768.2662
Erin Homeless Case Manager 828.774.9212
Hillary PATH SOAR Case Manager 828.772.6600
Janette Homeless Case Manager 828.774.8117
Jenny M. Permanent Supportive Housing Director 828.782.1492
Jerry HACA Team Lead 828.777.4754
Jon Security Manager 828.777.9702
Julie Rapid Rehousing Manager 828.772.2849
Kate A. PATH Peer Support Case Manager 828.620.0056
Kate C. PATH Team Lead 828.768.2670
Katherine Housing Case Manager 828.772.2848
Katie Hands and Feet Volunteer 828.747.9409
Leigh Rapid Rehousing Director 828.772.9144
Linda Woodfin Safety Officer 828.505.3606
Michael Woodfin Safety Officer 828.505.3606
Mike Housing Case Manager 828.337.5672
Miranda Housing Specialist 828.777.5342
Molly Veterans Staff Support 828.747.8583
Myriam Homelessness Program Manager 828.774.9191
Nate AHOPE Safety Officer 828.252.8883
Nicole, Homeless Services Director 828.777.5165
Pip Homeless Case Manager 828.620.0135
Rachel Homeless Case Manager 828.778.0016
Robert PATH Case Manager 828.768.3435
Ryan Housing Case Manager 828.775.4199
Samuel Homeless Case Manager 828.774.9139
Sara Prevention Housing Case Manager 828.772.7497
Brittany Hands and Feet Intern 828.767.1060
Terry Donation Center Assistant 828.747.9409
Taylor Woodfin Safety Officer 828.505.3606
Wes Outreach Case Manager 828.772.2847
Will Housing Case Manager 828.777.9809
Strategic Initiative: Ending Chronic Homelessness
People who are chronically homeless have been on the streets or in shelter for at least 12 months and have a disability. The longer people are homeless, the more complex their needs become: they develop chronic medical conditions that don’t get treated, their mental health deteriorates and substance use increases, and they often experience severe trauma because they don’t have a safe place to live. Additionally, their public costs are high because they use emergency medical services and are frequently incarcerated, often for misdemeanors related to living outside. People who’ve become chronically homeless are the some of the most vulnerable members of our community. They have the greatest need for permanent housing but the least opportunity to access it. Based on our current programs, we know that people who’ve been chronically homeless can be successful in housing when we provide the right supports to meet their needs.
92 cents of every dollar goes directly to end homelessness
Donate Today
A monthly gift allows you to spread the financial impact of your giving across the entire year, lessening a one-time drain on your resources. Also, recurring gifts help Homeward Bound as we can more accurately predict income in advance, which helps with longer range budgeting and decision-making.
Donate
Volunteers help us end homelessness
Come volunteer with us
Come volunteer with us! We offer service experiences for individuals, faith communities, businesses, and schools and youth groups. Volunteers help us end homelessness in our region by helping provide much-needed services to people transitioning into a home.
Volunteer
Contribute to a Cause
Give
Your clean and gently used household items can help others experience the comforts of home. Your donations go directly to women, men, and children moving in to new homes or are used at our Day Center. Donation receipts are available upon request.
Give
Get in Touch. Get Involved.
The Homeward Bound community includes caring staff, volunteers, board members, and people experiencing or moving out of homelessness. We believe that housing is a human right and use the “Housing First” national best practice to end homelessness. We care about the most vulnerable among us and work every day to help them improve their lives. Join us!
37 Montford Ave Asheville, NC 28801
Call Us: (828) 252-8883
News & Updates
Revisiting Chris’s Tale From Living in Tents to Giving Back
Check out Chris and his story from StoryShare. He started out entering AHOPE while he was living outside, using it as an oasis for a shower, hot coffee and a place to pick up mail. After Chris moved into his own home, he decided to give back to AHOPE and help others...
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“Passages: A Journey Through Place and Space” Art Show
Every individual’s passage or journey through life is unique.
This show is about life’s journey and the places and spaces
it can, or has, taken us.
Homeward Bound’s 2000th client moves into her own home!
The Struggle is Real. April is a single mom with two teenage daughters who were homeless for six years. She grew up with a single mother who experienced domestic violence and struggled to find healthy ways to cope and keep her children safe. April also...
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