Safe Shelter has been in search of a permanent location since it opened its doors in 2019. In many ways, their story mirrors the journeys of the community members it has served for the past six years. Last fall, the nonprofit signed a three-year lease at Trinity United Methodist Church’s campus on Haywood Road in West Asheville. After years of shifting between temporary sites, this permanent home marks a delightful return to their roots, as their journey began at Trinity in 2021 when they first operated as a code purple shelter.
In addition to securing space, Safe Shelter attributes part of their success to the Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP). The organization became involved with the pilot in May 2024 as one of eight organizations awarded funds by Impact Health to build capacity in the region’s community health workforce. They first learned about HOP from the Equal Plates Project, one of their community partners and a HOP service provider. The Safe Shelter team knew some of their guests would qualify for pilot services.
“It’s so lovely to have something so simple and concrete like HOP to offer our guests,” said Anna Pizzo, founder and owner of Counterflow, which operates Safe Shelter. “Both the ease of signing up and how quickly they receive benefits like access to meals for people with diabetes, for example. It gives guests hope and offers them encouragement not to give up on longer processes like finding housing.”
Pizzo also emphasizes the critical role that community health workers play at Safe Shelter. They assist guests in numerous ways, such as finding employment, obtaining a driver’s license, and securing after-school care. The staff’s diverse lived experiences significantly contribute to Safe Shelter’s success in helping guests achieve stability and transition to permanent housing. Many former guests return as volunteers, providing peer support and shared understanding, which are incredibly valuable.
Before Hurricane Helene, Safe Shelter was preparing to move into its new space and expand its hours, shelter capacity, and staff. After the hurricane hit, they were inundated with referrals and people showing up on their doorstep seeking refuge. The hurricane response funding Impact Health was able to quickly distribute helped them stay on track and meet the increased needs of community members recovering from an unprecedented natural disaster.
Individuals stay at Safe Shelter for two to three months on average, with families often staying longer. Over the past year, the organization has focused on filling the gaps for those who may have a more difficult time finding a safe place to land, like a single mom with teenage sons, LGBTQ individuals, people of color, or those with pets.
Katlyn Zulinke, Safe Shelter’s development director, shared the story of a mother with three teenagers and two pets who had fled a domestic violence situation. She had struggled to find temporary housing that could accommodate her family. Safe Shelter provided them with a place to stay until they secured subsidized housing, a process that took some time.
At Safe Shelter, the family discovered more than a safe place to stay. A member of the shelter’s team who also operates a food truck hired one of the teenagers. A Safe Shelter supporter donated a car to the family.
Currently, Safe Shelter is open from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., but they are in the process of expanding their hours to better accommodate clients’ needs. They hope to have daily drop-in hours from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for potential new guests so they can see the space and meet the staff.
A hallmark of the Safe Shelter experience is their Wednesday dinners that are open to all community members. Gabriella Volkomer, innovation manager at Impact Health, vividly recalls attending one of these dinners. “The connection between the staff and families felt so genuine. They sat together, sharing stories, expressing gratitude, and playing games after dinner. It truly felt like being part of a big, loving family.”
