70 new beds added to Asheville emergency shelter plan amid funding gaps
Homeward Bound expands Code Purple capacity to 90 as Salvation Army pauses 65 year-round beds, while city and county double financial support for winter operations.
By Stella Brooks ·
Homeward Bound of Western North Carolina added 70 emergency shelter beds in Asheville to offset a projected loss of more than 100 regular and winter shelter spots this season. The nonprofit increased its Code Purple capacity from 20 to 90 beds to house men, couples, and people with pets as winter approaches.
The expansion responds to a funding shortage at the Salvation Army, which paused its regular residential shelter program at the Center of Hope on Nov. 1. That pause affects approximately 65 year-round shelter beds. Homeward Bound staff and volunteers will now operate Code Purple at that location instead of the AHOPE Day Center.
Alanna Kinsella, director of homeless services at Homeward Bound, noted that the partnership allows the organization to provide more beds, though she stated the ideal situation would be for the Salvation Army to operate full time. The nonprofit estimates it will provide about 7,200 overnight bed stays between November and April, serving more than 150 people.
Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care activates Code Purple when temperatures or wind chills reach 32 degrees or below, or when temperatures are between 33 and 40 degrees with precipitation. Kinsella emphasized that the need for shelter extends beyond these specific weather triggers, describing Code Purple as a fill-in-the-gap service. She expressed a desire for a low-barrier shelter in Asheville that does not depend on inclement weather.
Asheville and Buncombe County each budgeted $100,000 for the 2026-27 season, doubling their contributions from the previous year. The Asheville City Council approved an agreement allowing the city to accept and administer the county's contribution. The Salvation Army hopes to eventually reopen its program, subject to securing sufficient funding.
The Continuum of Care said ABCCM will maintain 35 shelter beds for women and women with children. The group is also planning for Safe Shelter to provide 40 overflow beds if participating Code Purple shelters reach capacity. The Code Purple cohort will publish the finalized manual next week after selecting the Operations Coordinator.
The winter emergency shelter season begins Nov. 1 and runs through April 30, 2027.
