ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Buncombe County is considering a roughly 24% increase in funding for emergency cold-weather shelters this winter, even as the planned loss of regular shelter beds raises concerns about where people experiencing homelessness will go when temperatures drop.
The proposed Code Purple budget for the 2026-27 season is $376,353, up from $303,000 last year. The proposal would also increase reimbursement to participating shelters from $39.15 to $75 per person per night.
At that higher rate, the proposed budget would cover 5,018 bed nights, compared with 7,579 budgeted last season. A bed night represents one person staying in a shelter for one night…