Housing & Houselessness

Spend time with organizations that work to create a strong safety net for people experiencing houselessness, develop sustainable solutions to the challenges of houselessness, and fight for equitable, affordable housing. While you make your home at Warren Wilson, you will actively seek ways to help others find theirs.

Your off-campus opportunities might include experiences like:

  • AHOPE Day Center: Support the work of of this low-barrier day shelter by assisting with weekly tasks such as sorting mail, serving coffee, and distributing hygiene supplies
  • Habitat for Humanity: Participate in weekly builds to increase access to affordable housing in our community.
  • BeLoved Community: Engage with a local intentional community working to build resources for people experiencing poverty and houselessness.

Break Trip

At a Habitat for Humanity build site in West Asheville, students spent their spring break building houses. They had the opportunity to both help build homes and meet to talk about big topics relating to affordable housing. This is an annual Break Trip that runs each spring! Read on.

Work Day

Community Partner: Homeward Bound

Homeward Bound is a nonprofit agency that ends houselessness by moving people into permanent housing and providing the support that they need to stay there. Homeward Bound began in 1988 as Hospitality House. In 2006, Hospitality House became Homeward Bound of WNC, and shifted its focus from managing houselessness with shelter to ending houselessness with permanent housing, utilizing the best practice model of Housing First.

Food plate

Taking Initiative

Students in SWK 2010 collaborated with Asheville Poverty Initiative to facilitate a Realities of Poverty event. The event stimulated conversations about local poverty with the Buncombe County and Warren Wilson College communities, and highlighted the realities of poverty to help eradicate the stigmas of living in poverty. The event was followed by a free, shared meal and collective reflection about next steps for action.