Safe & Warm/Code Purple
Code Purple
Be A Part of the Solution
With the Rising Cost of Everything struggling families are having choose between heat and groceries.
Help struggling families avoid the terrible choice. Donate a blanket, pay a heat bill.
Safe & Warm annual Blanket, Coat, Heat Assistance Drive, January 27th- February 24th.
Every winter with 29,797 (11.5%) of the Buncombe County population living below the poverty level there is a need to help families and individuals with heating assistance. This year, due to inflation, lack of affordable housing, medical insurance and the lasting economic impact of Covid-19 the need for heating assistance is projected to increase 30+% and there are more Cold Weather Stories to come than ever. During the winter months ABCCM receives an average of 20 calls a day, including from elderly and families with children for heating assistance, and has prevented the shut off of heat for 130 households.
Safe Havens & Code Purple
With a total of 130 beds at three facilities designated as Safe Havens, ABCCM has been selected as the lead agency for freezing weather emergencies during the 2022-23 winter season.
Officials with Buncombe County and the City work through the Homeless Coalition to call Code Purple. Code Purple nights occur when temperatures reach 32 degrees or lower, when people are at-risk of freezing to death. The threat is real.
According to the last Point in Time count, there were about 120 unsheltered (men, women and children, including Veterans and intact families).
Proud Sponsors of ABCCM Safe Havens and Safe & Warm
Drop-off Locations
Drop off your blankets or coats at the following locations. Carolina Furniture Concepts will match $30,000 on January 27th blanket drive day at Carolina Furniture Concepts at 100 Airport Road.