History of the Network

The Asheville Homeless Network was born in a tent in January 2003, when Gwenn Parr (now McCourry) noticed that what organizations existed for the purpose of helping the homeless of Asheville didn't coordinate their activities effectively. Red tape and confusion made it virtually impossible for a person to access the help they needed.

Among the goals envisioned at that time were: (a) getting information to the homeless population about what help was available and where; (b) making information available about their rights and the local laws that affected them; (c) lining up organizations and churches to help individuals directly; (d) changing the public's perception of who the homeless are; and (e) educating City and County officials as to their needs.

In the years we have been operating, members of our organization have met with City officials (including Asheville's Police Chief and the Buncombe County Sheriff); networked with other organizations that help the homeless; provided craft supplies and markets for finished crafts for homeless artists; helped homeless campers find safe and legal camping spots; helped a couple stranded families pass through Asheville; and helped locate individuals who were thought to be missing and helped them re-establish contact with family members.

All of this was done with no government involvement, aid, or assistance -- and with virtually no money. This website, created by Moss Bliss in April 2004, has been the central hub of information and assistance.

The 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness is a good start, and AHN had a representative on the Task Force, but there are gaping holes and it has it has been showing those holes the longer the plan is implemented. More measures to prevent people BECOMING homeless are needed. Housing is needed now, not somewhere down the road and not just for the "worst 10% of offenders". With the planned closing of more mental health facilities across North Carolina, there has been a corresponding rise in the homeless population. Many of these people will be ill-equipped to handle the activities and stresses of day-to-day life without assistance, and will end up on our streets and our jails.

There is still much more to be done. Homelessness is not a theoretical issue to be debated in ivory towers and have inadequate funds thrown at it in ineffective ways. Studies show that the average family is only three-to-six paychecks away from homelessness. We invite help and participation from all sectors, in all forms, and promise to be there to coordinate getting that help directly where it can do the most good. Donations of fabric or other artistic materials, money, and time are welcome, and are gravely needed.

There is only shelter space currently for 3-5 families to be be housed together, and 2 of those rooms require that the couple be legally married; new, repressive laws (including one which bans anyone who has ever been arrested with an open container of alcohol from entering a city park or building) need to be repealed; there are few legal places to camp out, and police and sheriff involvement is still strongly negative; and public perceptions are slow to change.

Milestones: First By-Laws adopted April 24, 2004. Accepted as a member of the Asheville-Buncombe Coalition for the Homeless June 2005. Incorporated as a North Carolina Nonprofit on December 6, 2005. Filed for IRS 501(c)(3) status March 2007, approved in August 2007 and backdated to our incorporation date.

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