Code Purple is a coordinated effort among Buncombe County and Asheville shelters to alert and provide emergency overflow shelters to unhoused individuals during cold weather. During the alert, participating shelters will provide more beds with fewer requirements than their typical programming. Sites will also work with participants to refer them to ongoing shelter and housing options.
Code Purple is enacted by the Continuum of Care (CoC) during forecasts of temperatures of 32 degrees or below or 33-40 degrees with precipitation. Code Purple may be called during emergency situations if applicable.
There are several enhancements to this year’s plan:
- For the first time nightly winter shelter is available this year at two sites. See the table below for additional information.
- Hours for entry begin at 6 p.m. and end at 8 p.m. Folks will be able to stay in shelters until 7:30 a.m. and on the coldest days of the season, they will be allowed to stay past that time and in some instances, all day.
- A new Operations Coordinator role is included in the plan. This position will support all sites and responsibilities will include calling Code Purple, recruiting and working with volunteers, collecting data, and coordinating across sites as necessary to support the appropriate placement of individuals and optimize bed utilization at each location. Safe Shelter will be staffing this role.
Stay Informed
- The Operations Coordinator will call Code Purple based on the forecast on weather.gov 48 hours in advance of the Code Purple event and will collaborate with shelter providers and CoC Lead Agency staff (the City of Asheville’s Homeless Strategy Division).
- When called, the CoC Lead Agency will email the Code Purple distribution list. Based on those email notifications, the City and County will publicize (e.g., website, Harrah’s Cherokee Center marquee, and County’s text alert system). To be added to the distribution list, email [email protected].
Locations
| Site | Type | Capacity | Population | Transit Route |
| Safe Shelter (91 New Leicester Hwy) | Winter Shelter (nightly) | 40 | Men | WE1 West |
| Safe Shelter (27 Balm Grove) | Winter Shelter (nightly) | 10 | Women | W2, W1, W6 |
| ABCCM Transformation Village (30 Olin Haven Way) | Code Purple | 35 | Women, Women with Children | W2 |
| Salvation Army (204 Haywood St) | Code Purple | 16 | Men | W5, WE1 West, WE2 West |
| Homeward Bound/AHOPE (19 N. Ann St) | Code Purple | 20 | Couples/People with Pets | W6, WE1 West, WE2 West |
Transit:
- Bus transit through ART is free to Code Purple sites at night and from Code Purple sites to downtown the following morning
- Riders should identify themselves to the driver as needing free transit to Code Purple sites beginning 5:20pm and going to 8:00pm (when general shelter intake closes)
- The morning after a Code Purple event, transport is available back to Coxe Ave terminal from 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on weekdays/Saturday and 8 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. on Sundays. Inbound service is not available after above times if Code Purple has not been issued for that night also.
- Community Paramedics and AFD-REST are available to provide transportation for people who are unable to access bus transit.
- Mission Hospital will facilitate taxi service to Code Purple sites for people being discharged from the hospital.
- ABCCM will facilitate shuttle service to/from the transit stop closest to Transformation Village.
To learn more about Code Purple, visit this website and to learn more about Buncombe County’s Homelessness Resources, visit this website.
Written by Buncombe County.