Homeward Bound of Western North Carolina is pleased to announce that Jessie Figueroa, currently serving as the organization's Resource Development Director, will become its next Chief Executive Officer. Read Homeward Bound’s announcement about Simon Dwight’s departure, released on October 28th.

Wayne Swanton, President of Homeward Bound's Board of Directors, shared the following statement:

“Looking ahead, we are delighted to continue this journey with Jessie Figueroa as our new CEO. Jessie brings a deep commitment to our mission, a demonstrated record of success across multiple leadership roles within Homeward Bound, and established relationships throughout the broader community that supports this essential work. She is well positioned to lead our dedicated team in preventing and ending homelessness.

We are grateful for all Simon has given to this organization and excited to welcome Jessie into this new role." 

Simon Dwight shared his thoughts: “As I prepare for this transition, I am delighted that Jessie Figueroa will be stepping into the CEO role. Jessie is one of our own, and she brings the skills, commitment, and determination to lead Homeward Bound into its next chapter. I have every confidence in her leadership.” 

We're also excited to share that we're adding a Chief Operating Officer to our leadership team, an important investment in building leadership capacity and strengthening the support we provide to our staff, programs, and overall organization. 

Simon will remain in post over the coming months to ensure a smooth handover of leadership and minimal disruption for the organization. 

"I’m incredibly grateful to Simon for his leadership and the foundation he has helped build at Homeward Bound. I look forward to carrying that work forward and building on the progress we’ve made. I know there are challenges ahead, but they only motivate me more to deepen our impact, both for the neighbors we serve and for our larger Asheville community.

Since joining Homeward Bound in 2021, I've had the opportunity to see our mission from multiple perspectives, from working directly within our housing programs to building the resources and partnerships that make our work possible. I've gained a greater appreciation for the challenges people face in finding and maintaining housing, the dedication of the people working alongside them, and what we can accomplish when we come together around a shared purpose."

- Jessie Figueroa, Incoming CEO, Homeward Bound of Western North Carolina

Click here to read Jessie's full letter.

Homeward Bound remains committed to its mission of preventing and ending homelessness through permanent housing and support. We are dedicated to advancing this work alongside our partners throughout the greater Asheville-Buncombe area, building a community where all of our neighbors have the opportunity to thrive. Thank you for your continued support.

Homeward Bound of WNC is honored to be selected as a pioneer provider for the first year of Right at Home in Asheville, a national initiative working to stop homelessness before it starts. The Asheville program is currently planned to span three years, with $6 million in funding. In its first year, Homeward Bound received $389,000 and expects to serve at least 75 households in Buncombe County.

Right at Home builds on a proven homelessness prevention model pioneered by Destination: Home in Santa Clara County, California. By combining rapid, flexible financial assistance with case management, the model helps families address immediate financial crises before they lose their housing. In Santa Clara County, more than 90% of families at high risk of homelessness remained stably housed two years after receiving assistance. Research also found that every dollar invested generated $2.47 in savings to the community.

Most of Homeward Bound’s Right at Home funding will provide direct financial assistance to Buncombe County residents at risk of homelessness. This support can cover expenses that threaten housing stability but are often difficult to fund, including car repairs and overdue utility bills. Paired with case management, this flexible assistance helps households address the unexpected expenses that can put their housing at risk.

Homeward Bound’s existing homelessness prevention program has limited resources to meet these needs. Right at Home allows us to reach more neighbors with timely, tangible help, before a housing crisis becomes homelessness. Once someone loses their housing, the resulting instability and trauma can be difficult to overcome, and the costs of crisis response are far greater than those of preventing housing loss in the first place.

As housing costs rise and wages struggle to keep pace, this partnership represents an important step toward a more effective, compassionate approach to homelessness. By intervening earlier, we can help more households remain stably housed and advance our mission to prevent and end homelessness in Western North Carolina.

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 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.

Homeward Bound of WNC and the Carolina Real Estate Investors Association (CREIA) recently brought Asheville mayoral candidates Esther Manheimer and Kim Roney together at Highland Brewing Company for a community discussion on affordable housing and homelessness.

With Election Day approaching, the forum gave community members an opportunity to hear the candidates’ perspectives on some of Asheville’s most pressing challenges, including housing affordability, zoning, and how local government can respond to the need for more accessible housing. The discussion touched on ideas ranging from updating the city’s zoning code to exploring ways to make better use of existing housing.

Conversations like these help bring community members together around the challenges facing our neighbors and the solutions that can move Asheville forward. Addressing homelessness requires thoughtful collaboration across our community, and we’re glad to help create space for these important discussions.

This September marked three years since Compass Point Village welcomed its first resident on September 21, 2023. Since then, more than 125 people have called this Asheville community home.

Compass Point Village provides permanent supportive housing for people facing some of the most significant barriers to housing stability, including complex mental health and substance use challenges. Alongside a safe, stable home of their own, residents have access to case management to help them navigate daily life and remain housed.

But as Program Manager Damian Roos explains, building a community is just as important as providing housing. The team works to foster an environment where residents care for their surroundings and see one another as neighbors.

Over the past three years, we’ve seen residents build connections, pursue goals, and take steps toward brighter futures. For resident Kathaleen, having a place of her own has been transformative:

“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.”

Three years in, Compass Point Village continues to demonstrate what’s possible when people have not only a place to call home, but also the support and community to build a more stable future.

Residents at Compass Point Village recently got into the Halloween spirit with a pumpkin-carving event hosted by Biltmore United Methodist Church. The church supplied pumpkins, craft materials, snacks, and even dinner, which the volunteers served during the festivities.

The church is already planning more holiday gatherings for residents around Thanksgiving and Christmas. We're glad to see these opportunities for connection continue throughout the year.

Grace Episcopal Church recently prepared and served a chili dinner for residents at Compass Point Village. Sharing a meal gave residents an opportunity to gather and enjoy time together, while the church's visit added another moment of community connection to life at CPV.

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