Health Alert: Homeward Bound
118 views · Published 20 January 2015 · 1:33 · Indexed 22 September 2026
Channel: WLOS News 13 · 2015 · News & Politics
ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Sometimes for health providers, treating the medical problem also requires addressing the social issue. One partnership has reduced homelessness and chronic ER visits. Homeless on the streets of Asheville when he arrived five years ago, James Williams now has two jobs and his own home. "My life really changed a lot man because I was going in the wrong direction," Williams said. The non-profit organization Homeward Bound helped turn things around. "We have reduced since 2006 chronic homelessness in Asheville and Buncombe County by 84 percent," Jim Lowder of Homeward Bound said. Brooks Ann McKinney of Mission Health Safety Net understands the importance of the non-profit. "If there's no program like Homeward Bound, then the individual will continue to go in and out of the hospital," McKinney said. Mission Health has put millions back into the community aimed at ending homelessness and improving clients' health. "They provide funds that number one allow us to provide housing, and number two an appropriate level of support to help folks stabilize their lives," Lowder says. Williams says without Homeward Bound, he may still be on the street. He's happier and healthier than he's been in years. Mission has provided more than $140 million in community support in Western North Carolina. _______________ Follow WLOS on social media: WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/News13/ WLOS ABC 13 News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WLOS_13 WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: https://instagram.com/wlos_13 Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1 Listen to AnchorMOMS, the Podcast: https://wlos.com/news/anchormoms/anchormoms-the-podcast Watch more top local news stories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk8Ge6UXHJs&list=PLkVbaoT-aYbIvnEpR0Ct5QQQqYaORUSUH For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit http://www.wlos.com Watch our live newscasts and other live video at https://wlos.com/watch Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: [email protected] Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340 WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
