Homeward Bound of Western North Carolina

Homeward Bound's ahope day center offers an array of human dignity services such as showers, laundry facilities, computer and internet access, mail services, lockers for personal belongings, and a mailing address for individuals experiencing homelessness. Ahope also serves as the gateway to the local coordinated entry system, which facilitates equitable housing placements based on the unique needs of every individual. Additionally, ahope provides case management services, onsite and through street outreach, to link individuals experiencing homelessness with housing resources, healthcare, employment assistance, and other supportive services.

The welcome home donation center is a part of Homeward Bound's efforts to provide individuals transitioning out of homelessness with the essential items needed to create a stable home environment. The center accepts donations of furniture, household goods, and other items necessary for setting up a new home. These donated furnishings are physically moved into the new homes of individuals and families who have secured housing. The welcome home donation center, in keeping with Homeward Bound's low-barrier services approach, helps make the transition from homelessness to stable housing less stressful and more manageable for our neighbors in need. In fy22/23 we moved 207 individuals into permanent housing and/or delivered furnishings.

Homeward Bound operates several supportive housing programs called permanent supportive housing (including scattered site housing with private landlords, public housing, woodfin apartments, key commons, and compass point village which is in the renovation stage and should be open in the summer of 2023), rapid rehousing and services for veterans, (supportive services for veterans and families). Each of these housing programs are operated using a national best practice model called housing first. People are moved into housing first and are then provided case management support services to help them remain in housing. This model provides people the stability they need in housing to be able to then work on any issues they may have such as mental health, substance use, or physical health.