Answer Woman: Is a low-barrier shelter coming to Asheville? If so, where?
ASHEVILLE - Today's burning question is about an ongoing push to bring low-barrier shelter to Asheville. Got a question for Answer Man or Answer Woman? Email Executive Editor Karen Chávez at KChavez@citizentimes.com and your question could appear in an upcoming column.
Question: What’s going on with the low-barrier homeless shelter effort? Do we know where it’s going to go?
Answer: A 50,000-square-foot shelter with 150 beds. Ideally a single building inside the city limits, near downtown resources and on a bus line. People would not be barred from entry for intoxication, for lack of funds or for having a pet in tow.
That's the vision for a new low-barrier homeless shelter in Asheville and Buncombe County, intended to close a needed gap, cutting the number of people experiencing homelessness in half by 2025.
At a Feb. 20 briefing to Buncombe County commissioners, Homeless Program Manager Lacy Hoyle laid out the preferred model for a new high-access shelter, based on recommendations from an ongoing planning process. Led by county staff, the planning team is made up of county, city and Homeless Initiative Advisory representatives.
It includes the city and county managers, board and council leadership, homeless service provides, a neighborhood representative and more.
Since the National Alliance to End Homelessness first named a need for more shelter space in Asheville, there's been an "aggressive" push toward securing more beds for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the city, Hoyle said.
Now, staff are identifying potential sites, while city and county staff further investigate operating costs. Eventually, implementation and site activation of the shelter will be transitioned to the Asheville-Buncombe County Continuum of Care — ensuring no single municipality shoulders the burden.
Asheville finds itself in the midst of an ongoing homelessness crisis, exacerbated by the pandemic and climbing housing costs, and while overall numbers trended down last year, unsheltered counts remain higher than pre-pandemic figures, with 171 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Buncombe County, according to the January 2023 point in time count, an annual single night tally.
That's down 26% from the year before, but 163% higher than before the pandemic.
Hoyle said they project unsheltered numbers will rise 3% this year, and continue to increase moderately, with an estimated 2030 count of 212 people.
While there are several existing shelters in the city, like those provided by ABCCM, Western Carolina Rescue Ministries and AHOPE's day shelter, there's been a longstanding need for low-barrier emergency shelter, in line with the Alliance recommendations.
Current offerings are not always enough to meet the needs, with barriers to entry acting as a deterrent for some.
Hoyle said the team spent time examining other service models nationwide, including Oak City Cares, Raleigh's homeless day center, and a new homeless day shelter in Fayetteville.
The Asheville shelter team recommends a 24/7 facility with 100 non-congregate beds, which offers privacy and separation for individuals and households, and 50 congregate beds, a day shelter space and wraparound services, including case management, behavioral health, medical care, housing placement support, meals, substance use treatment and employment support.
It would allow pets, serve families, provide transportation assistance and include Alliance and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development best practices, like the "housing first" approach, immediate and low-barrier access, avoidance of fees and no additional references or unnecessary requirements.
An existing building would be preferred, Hoyle said, but vacant lots will be considered.
In September, Buncombe County earmarked its final $3.8 million in ARPA funds for housing and shelter, with the possibility of dedicating it toward a low-barrier shelter facility.
Asheville City Council's own conversations around use of its remaining ARPA funds is ongoing.
The city has attempted to build permanent emergency shelter before without success. It canceled plans to convert East Asheville's Ramada Inn into a low-barrier homeless shelter in December 2021 after outcry from the hotel's neighbors and uncertainty from financial partners.
Council members will hear a similar update on shelter team recommendations at its Feb. 27 meeting.
More: Amid homelessness, Asheville couple marries in church where they took shelter years before
More: East Asheville Ramada Inn property slated for homeless housing lost to foreclosure
Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Answer Woman: Is a low-barrier shelter coming to Asheville?
