The Housing Authority of the City of Asheville (HACA) will host Safe at Home: Understanding Domestic Violence, Housing, and Hope on Thursday, July 30, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Maple Crest Community Room, located at 20 Lee Garden Lane in Asheville.
Presented in partnership with Helpmate and Our Voice, the free community event will bring together local advocates to explore an issue that often goes unseen: the connection between domestic violence and housing.
For many survivors, leaving an abusive situation also means finding a safe place to live, rebuilding financial stability, and navigating an uncertain future.
Through conversation, education, and shared experiences, the panel will examine these challenges while highlighting the role safe, stable housing can play in helping survivors heal and move forward. An audience question-and-answer session will follow.
“Domestic violence is about power and control, and its effects often extend far beyond the abuse itself,” said Caitrín Doyle, Outreach Coordinator at Helpmate, who will moderate the discussion. “When survivors have access to safe housing, strong support systems, and accurate information, they’re in a much better position to move toward safety and independence. Conversations like this help break down stigma, encourage people to seek help, and remind survivors that they are not alone.”
The discussion builds on work HACA has already undertaken to improve access to safe, stable housing for people experiencing domestic violence.
Earlier this year, HACA partnered with the Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care, Helpmate, Homeward Bound, and Safe Shelter to reinstate admissions preferences for individuals exiting homelessness and survivors of domestic violence. Through that coordinated effort, eligible individuals can be referred for housing through the community’s coordinated entry system, helping connect some of Buncombe County’s most vulnerable residents with stable housing and supportive services.
HACA also serves as a designated PorchLight haven, part of a communitywide network coordinated by Helpmate and Our Voice. At PorchLight locations, survivors of intimate partner violence or sexual violence can make a confidential call to Helpmate, Our Voice, or 911 and wait in a welcoming, discreet setting while support responds. HACA staff can also help connect current residents with trusted community partners and resources when they need support navigating safety, housing, or other immediate concerns.
“Providing housing is only part of our responsibility,” said Ella Santos, Chief Executive Officer of the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville. “We also have a responsibility to work alongside our community partners to remove barriers, strengthen support systems, and create pathways to safety and stability. This panel reflects that commitment. We hope people leave with a better understanding of the impacts of domestic violence, greater awareness of the resources available in our community, and the reassurance that no one has to face these challenges alone.”
The event is open to Housing Authority residents, Housing Authority staff, community partners, nonprofit organizations, service providers, and members of the public.
