Asheville Reporter

The Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care recently reported on the impact of Tropical Storm Helene on homelessness in Buncombe County. The local body, responsible for tackling homelessness, disclosed the results of its 2025 Point-in-Time Count, presented at their March 26 meeting.

Helene has significantly affected homelessness in the county, as revealed by the new data. The annual Point-in-Time Count, conducted by the Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care (CoC) on January 28, 2025, involved 135 volunteers, including 60 CoC members.

The count recorded 755 individuals experiencing homelessness, a slight increase from 739 identified in the previous year. A notable increase was observed in the number of unsheltered individuals, which rose by 50% to 328 people. Of those, 35%, or 116 people, attributed their situation to Tropical Storm Helene.

In contrast, the number of people in shelters or transitional housing decreased by 18% compared to 2024. This was partly due to the damage at ABCCM’s Veterans Restoration Quarters caused by the storm.

Federal regulations require that the count includes people in hotels or motels paid for by an agency. As a result, the count reported to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will encompass those in FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program in Buncombe County on the designated night, adding 1,548 individuals without housing due to Helene.

The Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care, established in February 2024, is finalizing its first strategic plan expected in the spring. Membership is open to anyone in the community interested in understanding and addressing homelessness. More information is available on the City of Asheville’s Continuum of Care project page.

In its role as Lead Agency, the City of Asheville, through the Homeless Strategy Division, is releasing this information on behalf of the CoC. The results and meeting materials are accessible for public review.