ASHEVILLE, N.C. —The city of Asheville recently released its latest homelessness data, and it appears to be on a slight decline. Hundreds of people still don't have a permanent place to stay.
What You Need To Know
- Homelessness in Asheville appears to be on the decline
- The city recently released new numbers revealing how many people are experiencing homelessness
- In 2022, 405 people were sheltered, while 232 were unsheltered
- This year, 402 people have been sheltered so far, while 171 have been unsheltered
“What we’re doing as a church, we are saying, yes, we welcome you here. We want there to be [a] safe shelter here, but it’s important that you help us by picking up trash,” Melanie Robertson, chair of the Asheville Homeless Coalition, said.
Melanie Robertson says Trinity United Methodist Church's fresh approach to helping unhoused people appears to be working.
“We actually see this as a very important ministry here at Trinity. We are planning on putting some picnic tables out here and some trash cans that make it even easier,” Robertson said. “It’s actually a part of our mission statement is, ‘Creating safe and brave spaces.’”
She says building relationships is important to the church.
“We’re also trying to educate our congregation and our neighbors that these are folks that are finding themselves unhoused. And what we have to remember is that, yes, there are some shelters here in town, but there’re also a lot of barriers,” Robertson said.
Not having an ID, being a couple, having a family or a pet, lack of affordable housing and lack of beds in shelters were some barriers Robertson hinted at. But she added those barriers are constantly being worked on.
“Asheville city is working hard right now to come up with 95 more beds and those beds are broken down into percentages of need,” Robertson said.
Asheville released new data from itsAnnual Point in Time Count, showing a slight decline in homelessness.
In 2022, 405 people slept in shelters, while 232 didn’t have a place to sleep. This year, those numbers declined, with 402 sleeping in shelters while 171 didn’t have a place to go.
The data helps give organizations and the city a broad picture of what’s going on. On one day in January each year, the city records the number of people on the streets and in shelters.
“You can only get an approximate number. It’s hard to get everybody, and it doesn’t really include folks who are couch surfing or staying with friends and family,” Robertson said.
This summer,the Asheville Homeless Coalition knows it has more work to do.
“This summer is going to be hot, so we are looking for ways for our folks to go inside and get cooled off,” Robertson said.
Robertson is asking Asheville residents to stop the negative chatter, and truly get involved in order to continue to see homelessness eradicated.
“Teddy Roosevelt said the arena metaphor. If you’re not willing to get in the arena, and rumble and allow yourself to be in close proximity of what’s going on, then I don’t really think you have a lot to say,” Robertson said. “But when you get into the arena and you pay attention and you hear stories and you get involved with solutions, that’s when change can happen.”
