Buncombe County Activates Expanded Code Purple Plan, Enhances Winter Shelter

Buncombe County moved to a coordinated emergency shelter status when the Continuum of Care Board approved the county Code Purple plan and the county released the implementation details on November 24. The Code Purple season runs from November 1 to April 30 and was activated to provide emergency overflow shelter during cold weather forecasts. The announcement outlined a suite of enhancements meant to improve access, logistics, and data driven decision making for winter shelter operations.

For the first time nightly winter shelter will be available at two sites concurrently, with entry hours set from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and stays allowed until 7 30 a.m. Stays will be extended on the coldest days when the county and partners deem it necessary. The plan also establishes an Operations Coordinator role to centralize calls, manage volunteers, collect placement data, and coordinate placements across providers.

The county release listed participating sites including Safe Shelter locations for men and women, ABCCM Transformation Village, Salvation Army, and Homeward Bound and AHOPE with stated capacities and transit routes for each site. Transportation provisions were a prominent feature of the plan. Free ART bus transit will run to Code Purple sites at night with morning return options. Additional transportation support will be provided by community paramedics, AFD REST, Mission Hospital taxi facilitation, and ABCCM shuttles.

Operational triggers are tied to National Weather Service forecasts, with the Operations Coordinator instructed to call Code Purple based on forecasts 48 hours ahead. The county provided contact information and links to county homeless services and other resources to help residents and service providers navigate the system during activations.

The policy shift reflects an institutional emphasis on coordinating public, nonprofit, and health system resources to reduce exposure risk and streamline shelter access. For residents experiencing housing instability the changes mean clearer entry windows and more predictable transit options during winter nights. For taxpayers and civic leaders the plan raises questions about sustained funding, volunteer capacity, and how data from the new coordinator role will inform future shelter policy and resource allocation. The county’s release directs individuals and partner agencies to the provided contact points and resource links for immediate assistance during Code Purple activations.