Community Groups

In This Section

    Collaborating

    The Homeless Initiative, which is based on the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness, thrives due to the collaboration, partnerships, and dedication of individuals and groups in the City of Asheville and Buncombe County.

    Fostering Creativity

    Homelessness can happen to anyone. Just as our community is varied, people who experience homelessness have a wide variety of needs that span from health care to medical treatment to sobriety support to family counseling.

    In order to respond to the unique needs of people successfully, groups throughout the community meet regularly to focus on creative solutions to challenging questions. Below is a list of some of these groups.

    If you work with a group that should be listed here, contact Amy Sawyer at 828-259-5851.

    Asheville Homeless Network

    The Asheville Homeless Network is a coalition of homeless people, formerly homeless people, and their allies in the Asheville area coming together for the purpose of identifying and providing information about services in the areas of housing, food, medical care, and other needs as identified.

    Community Resource Guide (PDF)

    Asheville Homeless Network
    P.O. Box 7104
    Asheville, NC 28802
    Website | Email

    BEACON

    The Buncombe Emergency Assistance Co-Ordinating Network, meets every other month to review changes in the emergency assistance system and evaluate community need. BEACON is the voting entity that manages Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds designated for Buncombe County.

    Chair:
    Bill Bradley
    Hearts with Hands
    (828) 667-1912
    Vice Chair
    Nathan Johnson
    Council on Aging
    (828) 277-8288
    Secretary:
    Rachael Nygaard
    United Way’s 2-1-1
    (828) 255-0696
    Treasurer:
    Dawn Warren
    Buncombe County DSS
    (828) 250-5500

    Documents:


    Health Net

    A group of 16 partners, including all local health-care providers serving low-income, uninsured county residents as well as ABCCM, Access II Care, the Buncombe County Medical Society (Project Access), the Department of Social Services, Eblen Foundation, Emma Family Medical Clinic, the Buncombe County Health Center, Health Partners, Hot Springs Health Program, MAHEC, Mission Hospitals, Pisgah Legal Services, Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care, Three Streams Family Health Center, Western Highlands Network and WNC Community Health Services.

    Contact: J. Nelson-Weaver, 250-5205


    MCADD

    MCADD (Mountain Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence) is committed to promoting understanding of public health issues connected to drug and alcohol dependencies through advocacy, information and referral, education, and training, both to individuals struggling to access services that will help them recover and to the professional community and provider agencies who serve consumers.

    Director:Marie Nemerov
    Website: www.nc-mcadd.org


    NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): Western Carolina

    NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of both persons living with serious mental illness and their families.

    People with mental illness, or relatives or friends of someone who has mental illness, can participate in NAMI Western Carolina. NAMI offers participants a chance to step out of isolation and into a caring community of resources and support.

    Website
    Executive Director: Christine Smith, 258-1832


    Contact Information

    Homeless Initiative
    Planning & Development Department
    Community Development Division 

    Location: Asheville City Hall, 70 Court Plaza
    Mailing: PO Box 7148, Asheville, NC 28802 

    Office hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
    Email: homelessinitiative@gmail.com    
    Phone: 828-515-1668

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