UPDATE:
The City of Asheville has announced that all meetings will be conducted virtually, due to the community spread of Covid-19. For that reason, the previously scheduled in-person August 12 community informational meeting about the City’s emergency shelter at the Ramada Inn will now take place virtually.
Join the meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, August 12, at https://publicinput.com/avlendinghomelessness or on the City’s YouTube channel. Registration for public comment will remain open until noon Thursday, August 12.
Original post
Over the past year, 158 unsheltered people were provided temporary shelter at the Red Roof Inn. During this period, the City and its partners were able to help 42 people transition to permanent housing. Given the success in connecting people to permanent housing through the homeless shelter at the Red Roof Inn, the City of Asheville is proposing a project to continue that work.
The City is under contract to purchase the Ramada Inn at 148 River Ford Parkway. The purpose of this purchase is to establish an emergency shelter to alleviate homelessness in Asheville.
The City will provide information to the community about the project at the following information sessions:
- Monday, August 9, 6 – 7:30 p.m.: Virtual information session / webinar about the project. Join the meeting at https://publicinput.com/avlendinghomelessness or on the City’s YouTube channel. To submit community questions, email avlendinghomelessness@PublicInput.com in advance of the meeting.
- Thursday, August 12, 5 – 7 p.m.: Virtual information session / webinar about the project. Join the meeting at https://publicinput.com/avlendinghomelessness or on the City’s YouTube channel. Registration for public comment will close at 9 am on Thursday, August 12.
Asheville City Council is expected to review and consider approval of this property purchase and funding for operations at their 5 p.m. August 24 Council meeting. If this project is approved by City Council, the City will purchase the Ramada Inn property and budget funds for operations. Funding for this project is proposed through key partnerships and federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.
To learn more about emergency shelters, visit this link.
Read our first post in the Homelessness Series about how the City is addressing homelessness.