Asheville -- August 6, 2026: Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM) will officially break ground on its new Veterans Restoration Quarters (VRQ) campus on Wednesday, August 13, marking a major milestone in the organization's recovery efforts following the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene.
The new facility represents more than a replacement for the previous campus. It is designed to expand services for homeless and at-risk veterans while creating a more resilient campus capable of serving Western North Carolina for decades to come.
The original Veterans Restoration Quarters, located along the Swannanoa River, suffered catastrophic flooding during Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Floodwaters forced the evacuation of veterans living at the facility and left multiple buildings beyond repair, disrupting one of the region's largest programs dedicated to helping veterans transition from homelessness to stable, independent living.
Before the storm, the Veterans Restoration Quarters provided approximately 250 beds, including transitional housing, emergency shelter, and permanent supportive housing for veterans working toward self-sufficiency.
According to ABCCM, the new campus will restore that lost capacity while adding 65 additional emergency shelter beds, allowing the organization to serve more veterans facing housing instability throughout Buncombe County and surrounding communities.
"Our veterans have sacrificed for our country, and they deserve every opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity," ABCCM leaders have said throughout the rebuilding campaign.
Unlike a traditional homeless shelter, Veterans Restoration Quarters offers a comprehensive restoration program that combines housing with individualized support services. Veterans receive case management, employment assistance, transportation to Veterans Affairs medical appointments, counseling, life-skills training, educational opportunities, and assistance securing permanent housing.
ABCCM reports that the program has historically helped a large majority of participating veterans successfully transition into stable housing and employment.
The rebuilding effort has become one of the most significant veteran-focused Hurricane Helene recovery projects in Western North Carolina. Since the storm, community organizations, volunteers, churches, businesses, and donors have worked alongside ABCCM to restore services while raising funds for a permanent replacement campus.
Construction partners on the project include Frank L. Blum Construction Company and Legerton Architecture, both of which are assisting in developing a modern facility designed to better withstand future disasters while meeting the growing needs of veterans across the region.
The groundbreaking ceremony is expected to bring together veterans, community leaders, donors, volunteers, elected officials, and supporters who have contributed to the rebuilding effort over the past two years.
For many veterans who lost their temporary home during Hurricane Helene, the ceremony represents more than the beginning of construction. It symbolizes the continuation of a mission that has served Western North Carolina veterans for decades and a renewed commitment to ensuring those who served the nation have access to housing, support, and a path toward long-term stability.
ABCCM has indicated that fundraising efforts for the expanded Veterans Restoration Quarters continue as construction moves forward.