According to the 2022 Point-in-Time count — a nationally funded one-night count of homeless individuals and families — there were 637 people living on the streets in Asheville.
Wondering how you can help? We’ve rounded up resources available to folks experiencing homelessness, including day centers, emergency church shelters, meal support + food pantries, and medical care, where you can donate or volunteer your time.
Need help now? You can always dial 211 to reach the United Way’s “First Call for Help,” which lists organizations serving those needing assistance with housing, food, utility bills and other costs. It’s free and available in multiple languages.
Housing
Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM) | Multiple locations | Provides a safe place for women + children, plus mentorship, training and short- and long-term goal fulfillment that moves residents towards self-sufficiency. The ABCCM also offers Transformation Village, which provides up to 100 beds of transitional housing for homeless women, mothers with children, and Veterans. Sign up to volunteer or donate.
Aura Home | St. Matthias Church Parish House, 1 Dundee St. | (828) 771-6979 | DYK: Of the 86,575 women vets in NC, over 12,000 are homeless? Aura Home offers housing for women veterans, as well as training for jobs, budgeting, reintegrating into society after the military + more. Find out how to volunteer or donate.
BeLoved Village | (828) 571-0766 | The nonprofit is building its village of 12 microhomes and still needs sponsors to help provide sustainable homes to help lift people out of poverty through opportunity + equity. Donate, volunteer, or partner here.
Eblen Charities | 50 Westgate Pkwy. | (828) 255-3066 | Runs a rental and mortgage assistance program and connects people in need with emergency shelter + assistance, as well as other services. Donate, volunteer, or partner here.
Homeward Bound | 19 N. Ann St. | (828) 252-8883 | Homeward Bound runs AHOPE day center and opened Compass Point Village to offer permanent housing to 87 people experiencing chronic homelessness. Contribute to its capital campaign and volunteer, donate, or see a list of needed supplies here.
Salvation Army | 204 Haywood St. | (828) 253-4723 | Emergency shelter plus other services, including food pantry + financial assistance. Find out how to give here.
Veterans Restoration Quarters | 1329 Tunnel Rd. | (828) 259-5333 | The ABCCM’s residential veterans program offers housing, education, training + more for male veterans. Volunteer here.
Western Carolina Rescue Mission | 225 Patton Ave. | (828) 254-1529 | This Christian-based rescue + recovery center has been serving meals and providing beds since 1981. It also offers a free addiction program for residents, as well as job training. The Abba’s House program specifically serve women and infants who are recovering from addiction. Donate here or volunteer.
Meals + supplies
12 Baskets Cafe | 610 Haywood Rd. | (828) 232-2149 | Offers prepared to-go meals and pantry items from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Tuesday and Friday, plus sit-down meals from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Monday and Thursday. Organized by the Asheville Poverty Initiative. Donate + volunteer here.
BeLoved Asheville | Mobile | (828) 571-0766 | BeLoved provides free meals and food to those in need via its “Mama’s Kitchen” food truck and also offers street pantries. Donate + volunteer here.
Catholic Charities Transition Out of Poverty | 50 Orange St. | (828) 255-0146 | This initiative offers folks specialized help, including assistance with food. Its food pantries require an appointment at least 24 hours in advance. Donate or get involved here.
Crisis Ministry | Various locations | (828) 259-5300 | Serves to-go meals at Our Daily Bread at Sonrise located at 1543 Patton Ave. from 11:30 a.m.- to 1 p.m. Monday–Friday. Serves hot meals and provides food boxes and a clothing room. Also provides utility + rental cost assistance. Volunteer here.
Saturday Sanctuary | First Presbyterian Church, 40 Church St. | (828) 253-1431 | Serves the unhoused and offers meals to share on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2p.m.
Downtown Welcome Table | Haywood Street Congregation, 297 Haywood St. | (828) 575-2477 | Serves lunch on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., plus breakfast on Sundays from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Donate here, or if you are interested in partnering, click here.
Hearts with Hands | 850 Warren Wilson Rd., Swannanoa | (828) 667-1912 | Help with poverty, disaster relief + more through providing supplies, including food and medicines. Donate money or supplies (and check out a supply list here).
Lunch at the Crossroads | First Baptist Church, 5 Oak St. | (828) 252-4781 | Distributes lunches to guests twice a month on Thursdays. The church also has a food pantry on Thursdays. Find information on volunteering here.
MANNA Food Bank | 627 Swannanoa River Rd. | (828) 299-3663 | MANNA serves the 16 counties of WNC and is the largest domestic hunger relief organization in the country. Find one of their pantries near you here, or call their Food Helpline at (800) 820-1109. Volunteer or give here.
Rosetta’s Kitchen | 68 N. Lexington Ave. | (828) 232-0738 | Rosetta’s Everybody Eats! program offers a sliding scale rice and beans plate from $2 to $6 (anything paid over $6 pays it forward). Pay your next meal forward.
Salvation Army | 204 Haywood St. | (828) 253-4723 | Food pantry + emergency shelter plus other services, including financial assistance. Find out how to give here.
Western Carolina Rescue Mission | 225 Patton Ave. | (828) 254-1529 | This Christian-based rescue + recovery center has been serving meals and providing beds since 1981. It also offers a free addiction program for residents, as well as job training. Their Abba’s House program specifically serve women who recovering from addiction. Donate here or volunteer.
Health
BeLoved Medical Services | Mobile | BeLoved has a team of street medics equipped with CPR, Narcan training + more. BeLoved is often seen taking to the streets to directly help those in critical need. Check out all of BeLoved’s projects here. Volunteer or donate here.
Buncombe County Health and Human Services | 40 Coxe Ave. | (828) 250-5211 | Provides low-cost health services at the Health Department, plus public assistance for low-income families, including crisis intervention, food assistance + energy assistance.
Steady Collective | Various locations | (828) 318-5007 | Focuses on reducing the rate of drug overdose and disease spread with education, advocacy, syringe exchange, and more. Volunteer or donate here.