Buncombe County and Asheville have activated Code Purple, an emergency response to provide shelter for unhoused individuals during severe winter weather. The initiative is a partnership among local shelters and the Continuum of Care (CoC). It offers overflow shelter beds and reduces entry requirements when temperatures fall to 32°F or below, or between 33-40°F with precipitation. Code Purple may also be used during other emergency situations.
This winter, the program includes several changes. Nightly winter shelter is now available at two locations for the first time. Shelter entry is open from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and guests may stay until 7:30 a.m. On the coldest days, shelters may extend hours or remain open all day. A new Operations Coordinator, staffed by Safe Shelter, will manage Code Purple activations, coordinate volunteers, collect data, and oversee shelter bed use.
Shelter locations are Safe Shelter at 91 New Leicester Hwy (40 beds for men), Safe Shelter at 27 Balm Grove (10 beds for women), ABCCM Transformation Village (35 beds for women and children), Salvation Army (16 beds for men), and Homeward Bound/AHOPE (20 beds for couples or people with pets)…