‘Lead Story’ Archives
Sophia from Just Economics Spoke at our Meeting Today
Just Economics has determined the minimum Living Wage in Asheville is $11.35/hour without benefits, or $9.85/hour with employer-provided health insurance. They estimate that 1/3 of the people in Asheville earn below this level, and do not have sufficient income to meet their basic needs. Their "Living Wage Employer Certification Program" [...]
The Mountain XPress Ran an Article About Chris Sullivan’s “Home Free Bagels” Startup
Chris Sullivan has made significant progress with her start-up. The Mountain XPress has ran an article about it, in the print version, and online. The online version starts out the same, but continues on and is about twice as long. Excerpt: ------------------------------------------------------- by Mackensy Lunsford Chris Sullivan [...]
A-Hope Keeps People Out in the Cold – So Much For “Code Purple”
Background: "Code Purple" is the term City of Asheville Planning & Development Department - Community Development Division - Homeless Initiative came up with for allowing shelters to waive normal occupancy limits when it's "below 32° (or the equivalent with the wind chill factor)." This December 9th, 2010 announcement also said "Shelters [...]
Asheville Transit Denies Bus Service – Roads in Excellent Condition
We're in for another winter of denied bus service in Asheville, while the roads are in great shape. The Asheville Transit website has this to say about bus service today: "12/27/10 Due to road conditions, bus service has been suspended." (Link .) Here's a picture of Patton Ave., just west of downtown, at 12:45pm today. As you can see, [...]
Asheville Area Shelters Will Be Open in Cold Weather
This is from on an e-mail that went out from the Homeless Coalition. Area Shelters Enact CODE PURPLE and Offer Emergency Cold Weather Services In response to recent deadly winter weather, area shelters have come together to offer emergency cold weather services to people who are currently experiencing homelessness and would not otherwise [...]
The Western Carolina Rescue Ministries Shelter Will Be Open in Cold Weather
This is an update to my recent article about Asheville shelters. Western Carolina Rescue Ministries (WCRM) will now be open during cold weather. Overflow will be open when the temperature is below 40 degrees. Up to 30 men can sleep on a mat in the chapel. The rule that you can only stay for 3 days unless you have an approved job will not [...]
The Homeless Shelter Situation in Asheville
If you are male, are not a veteran, don't have much money, and you are looking for a job - then it's going to be hard to get in a shelter this winter. Western Carolina Rescue Ministries (AKA "The Mission"): 225 Patton Avenue | (828) 254-1529 They have 40 beds for men. You can stay there three days, then you have to leave for seven days, [...]
A-Hope Denies Services to Everyone
This is a followup to my blog entry A-Hope Threatens to Deny Services to Everyone Again from 10/05/2010. It has come to my attention that about a week after I posted that entry that A-Hope closed for two hours because someone was found drinking on the property. They barred that person, and closed to everyone for two hours. Once again, [...]
The Asheville Transit Master Plan is Dead – Sunday Bus Service is Not Coming
Sunday bus service, which everyone was expecting to begin on July 1st, 2010 when the fares went up, is not currently on the table to EVER happen. I sent an e-mail to city council asking about the Transit Master Plan (TMP), and posted it to this blog. That letter has been moved here. (You'll need to read it for back story.) I only got [...]
A-Hope Threatens to Deny Services to Everyone Again
Today Amanda, the Assistant Director, said A-Hope would close to everyone if another beer can was found outside. I assume she meant for the rest of the day, or the next day. It has been 3 1/2 months since I last wrote here about A-Hope threatening to deny services to everyone, as that's the last time I've heard of it happening. I haven't [...]
