Social Justice

Asheville Poverty Initiative dismantles stereotypes, reduces fear and empowers hope through telling stories across socioeconomic differences. A steadfast presence for over a decade, we build community and educate about poverty from our community center at the intersection of State Street and Haywood Road in West Asheville. Our programs, 12 Baskets Café and Realities of Poverty, prioritize inclusivity, abundance and dignity to address hunger, housing and poverty. Everyone has, and everyone has needs. Come for the food, stay for the community.

Haywood Street Congregation pursues its mission — “Relationship, above all else” — through programs that help address challenges related to homelessness and poverty, including:
• Downtown Welcome Table, a free community meal serving 500-plus plates weekly.
• Haywood Street Respite, where unhoused adults can stay following a health crisis to recuperate and connect with primary care, mental health care and other needed supports.
• Haywood Street Community Development, developing deeply affordable housing designed with dignity and built for belonging.
• A community garden, art ministry and other activities designed to remind all people of their inherent worth and shared need for one another.

We seek to be a place of welcome for all, especially for folks who may not feel welcome anywhere else.

Helpmate works with our community to eliminate abuse and fear by providing safety, shelter and support for survivors of intimate partner domestic violence. Services include a 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, case management, counseling, outreach and education, children’s services, court advocacy and LGBTQIA+ outreach.

Our Voice’s mission is to inspire hope and healing while ending sexual violence and human trafficking in our communities through education, counseling and advocacy. Our support extends to individual counseling, crisis intervention and educational programs. Donations ensure that survivors can continue to access these vital services and reclaim their lives. 

Since 1978, Pisgah Legal Services has been a source of hope for people in our mountains who are struggling to make ends meet. We believe that justice is for everyone, not just those who can afford a lawyer.  
 
We provide a broad array of free, civil legal aid, anti-poverty advocacy and access to health care in the 18-county mountain region. Pisgah Legal helps people with low incomes meet basic needs, including protection from domestic violence, preventing homelessness, and securing care and income. Each year, Pisgah Legal’s caring attorneys, advocates and volunteers help 25,000-plus people across WNC.

The mission of REACH of Haywood County is to empower survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse and human trafficking through safety, healing and advocacy. We provide lifesaving shelter, crisis intervention, counseling, court and hospital accompaniment, and community education. Our work ensures that every survivor has the dignity, safety and resources they need to reclaim their life.

Founded in 1981, Western Carolina Rescue Ministries (WCRM) is Asheville’s largest and oldest rescue center. WCRM provides free meals, shelter, clothing, medical care and life-skills training, along with long-term recovery programs — Iron and Oil for men, and Abba’s House, which allows mothers to live with their children. Unique programs, such as the Joshua Plan and Women of Worth, offer counseling, job training and transitional support. Guided by Christ’s love, WCRM exists to serve the homeless, poor and addicted through rescue, recovery and restoration.