Asheville (Code Purple) and Buncombe County
Nightly Winter Shelters (Open every night)
Safe Shelter (Men): 91 New Leicester Hwy (Transit route: WE1 West)
Safe Shelter (Women): 27 Balm Grove Ave (Transit routes: W1, W2, W6)
Code Purple Overflow Sites (Activated during extreme cold)
Salvation Army (Men): 204 Haywood Street (Transit routes: W5, WE1 West, WE2 West)
ABCCM Transformation Village (Women/Children): 30 Olin Haven Way (Transit route: W2)
Homeward Bound – AHOPE (Couples & People with Pets): 19 N. Ann Street (Transit routes: W6, WE1 West, WE2 West)
Important Access Details
Intake Hours: Entry begins at 6 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m. For the safety of residents, all entries after 8 p.m. must be facilitated by public safety or outreach staff.
Lowered Barriers: There is no requirement for sobriety or identification to access these emergency beds.
Free Transportation: Free bus transit via ART is available to all sites starting at 5:20 p.m. Riders should simply tell the driver they need transit to a Code Purple site. Return transit to the Coxe Avenue terminal is also available the following morning.
To ensure people have the most up-to-date information regarding Code Purple status and shelter availability, they can use the following contact methods:
Primary Confirmation Lines
Code Purple Recorded Hotline: Call (828) 398-6011 to hear a recorded message confirming if Code Purple is currently active and which shelters are open.
As temperatures drop across the Blue Ridge Mountains, staying warm is a matter of safety. While Asheville provides many central services, Buncombe County and surrounding areas have specific resources and "Code Purple" protocols in place to help our unhoused neighbors.
For the latest daily updates on weather and community resources, stay tuned to wnctimes.
Buncombe County & Asheville
In 2025, Buncombe County has introduced Nightly Winter Shelters that remain open every night through March 31, in addition to emergency Code Purple sites that activate when temperatures drop below 32°F.
Safe Shelter (Men's Nightly): 91 New Leicester Hwy. Open every night.
Safe Shelter (Women's Nightly): 27 Balm Grove Ave. Open every night.
ABCCM Transformation Village: 30 Olin Haven Way. Serves women and children during Code Purple.
Salvation Army: 204 Haywood St. Serves men during Code Purple.
Homeward Bound / AHOPE: 19 N. Ann St. Serves couples and people with pets during Code Purple.
Swannanoa Emergency Shelter: Located in the Swannanoa Valley; look for purple flags at First Baptist Church or Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry.
Veterans Restoration Quarters: 1329 Tunnel Rd. Specialized emergency shelter for Veterans.
Henderson County
Hendersonville Rescue Mission: 639 Maple St, Hendersonville. Provides year-round emergency shelter for men, women, and families.
Interfaith Assistance Ministries (IAM): 1102 Asheville Hwy. Provides blankets, coats, and emergency heating assistance.
The Salvation Army of Hendersonville: 239 3rd Ave East. Offers emergency assistance and cold-weather support.
Haywood County
Haywood Pathways Center: 179 Hemlock St, Waynesville. A central hub for emergency shelter and hot meals.
Helping Hands of Haywood: 40 Felmet St, Waynesville. Focuses on emergency shelter and street outreach for those outdoors.
REACH of Haywood County: Provides specialized emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence.
Jackson & Macon Counties
HERE in Jackson County: Manages the Code Purple response for the Sylva area. Call (828) 477-4946 for current activation status.
Macon New Beginnings (Franklin): 131 Franklin Plaza. The primary contact for emergency shelter placement and cold-weather gear in Macon County.
REACH of Macon/Jackson: Provides safe emergency shelter for those fleeing domestic instability.
Transylvania & Madison Counties
The Haven of Transylvania County: 240 S. Caldwell St, Brevard. Provides emergency shelter for single adults and families.
Sharing House (Brevard): 164 Duckworth Ave. Offers warm clothing, blankets, and crisis assistance for heating bills.
Beacon of Hope (Marshall): 5111 US-25/70. A primary resource in Madison County for food and emergency assistance.
Important Resource Links
If you or someone you know is in need of immediate warmth and you are unsure where to go:
Call 2-1-1: This is the universal number for essential health and human services in NC.
Transit Note: In Buncombe County, ART bus transit is typically free to Code Purple sites at night and back to the downtown terminal in the morning.
WNCTimes