Current AHN Projects

Interested in helping with any of the following projects?

Adopt A Homeless Person: a project that connects a homeless person with a local faith or secular group that provides resources and services toward helping the individual with their needs and meet their goals. Click the link to learn more.

Networking the Network: Whether for applying for a job online or creating a resume, researching available resources and services in the area, or keeping in touch with loved ones and friends, computers are a powerful tool for those in need. Using the Network's funds, we get computers in the hands of Network members in good standing that they might have the freedom of the web at their disposal. The netbooks are considered a loan by the network with the option to buy the computer at cost. All netbooks come equiped with wi-fi modems so the internet might by available through Asheville's public wi-fi access points or other hot-spots.

Jail and Hospital Visits

Advocacy, including help with SSI/SSDI Applications

AHN Meetings, every Thursday at 2 pm
May include "support group meeting" as requested

Needles for the Needy: AHN members knit and crochet caps and scarves and donate blankets and other clothing as it comes to us. In 2005-06 AHN donated 6 caps, 3 scarves, 1 heavy coat, 2 blankets, and a winter business dress to A-HOPE and other needy individuals. We also have taken in a large donation of fabric (from bits and pieces to large things, some ready for quilting) and yarn, and are willing to share this with our members for making items for personal use or sale, or to anyone who would like to use it and donate the finished product to AHN.

We continue to receive donations of various items of clothing, blankets, and such, and have also purchased several cases of good athletic socks and distributed them to the area's homeless individuals and shelters. In early 2009, we even received a donation of fleece mittens, and the donor stated that she can make more, which we look forward to.

In terms of hats knitted since early 2006 (mentioned above), this project has grown each year, as follows ("year" is March 1 - February 28):

Hats Per Year
• 2006 - 60
• 2007 - 80
• 2008 - 101

We still have donated fabric and industrial yarn, good for sewing projects or various crafts projects, available; call Moss to check availability.

Still In The Works

We need your help to implement these items:

Tent City: Seattle has one; Indianapolis has one. Both are set up on unused City property. We will be approaching the City of Asheville and Buncombe County Commissioners about this project. We also have, in the past year, had property owners willing to let us set up tents on their property in exchange for helping them clear it, build structures and/or landscape the property. Information has already been presented to Robin Cape and Brian Freeborn, new City Council members; we hope to move on this during the Summer of 2006.

Tickets for Tenters: The police in Asheville and the sheriff's office in Buncombe County have been pretty rude to us. In the past, they could destroy our campsites; we have pointed out to them that this is felony destruction of property, and to the best of our current knowledge, they have stopped doing this. (Let us know if you are aware of incidents of this kind.)

What we propose is to print up stick-on labels, about 1/4 page in size, that the police would put on our tents/property, stating that we are camped illegally and have 24 or 48 hours to vacate the premises. Have them treat us like the real citizens we are, not just throwaway people.

We have met with the new Police Commissioner, and are assured that he is changing the attitudes of the entire department. We look forward to working with the Asheville Police in the future -- attitudes on both sides of this issue need changing.

Homeless Handcart: The City no longer sells street vendor licenses -- except for the Handcart Vendor License. This license is for vendors such as hot dog salesmen, but is not limited to food sales. After discussion with Charlotte Kaplan of the City's Community Development office, AHN learned that the fee for this license will be dropping on January 31, 2006, from $125 per year to $75 per year. Asheville Homeless Network has budgeted to purchase one of these licenses, and will rent, buy, or build a proper handcart. We will then be selling the handcrafts of our individual members from this cart, keeping only enough from the sale to keep the license, handcart repairs as needed, and supplies as needed; the rest of the proceeds will go to the artisan.

Job Bank: Does Labor Ready or Labor Finders take too much of what you've earned? We'd like to start our own Job Bank, with AHN keeping a much smaller percentage of your earnings. This one will take a lot of work, so we need a lot of workers; please contact AHN to help.

Camping Equipment: Got an extra tent or sleeping bag? Donate it to AHN! We'll find someone who needs it.

See a project you'd like to help with?