ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Nearly three-quarters of a million Americans experienced homelessness on a single night in 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s most recent data. As communities work to address the issue, a local ministry is bringing people together for conversations about homelessness, offering support and a place to start over.
Western Carolina Rescue Ministries in Asheville hosted its annual Conversations on a Bench event, a 24-hour initiative designed to encourage open dialogue about homelessness with local leaders, law enforcement and community members.
The event began Thursday at 3:30 p.m. and continues through Friday at 3:30 p.m. The local gathering, held outside the ministry on Patton Avenue, was livestreamed alongside participating ministries across the United States and Canada…