In June 2024, Buncombe County was selected to participate in the Just Home Project, a national program led by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation designed to advance community-driven efforts to break the link between housing instability and incarceration. 

Buncombe County, NC, along with five other sites, Philadelphia, PA, Allegheny County, PA, Milwaukee, WI, Missoula County, MT, and St. Louis, MO, was selected to receive a planning grant to address this crisis in their community. 

The Just Home Project seeks to support efforts informed by people with lived experience of incarceration and housing instability that will drive housing solutions for people at heightened risk of experiencing both.

Operation Gateway is partnering with Thrive Asheville in order to uplift the voices of our community, ensuring that lived experience is at the front of the table and that decisions are made by the people, for the people.