Our Programs
Our Shelters: Providing Safety, Stability, and Hope
Mission Ministries Alliance operates two low-barrier emergency shelters dedicated to providing safety, stability, and hope for those experiencing homelessness in McDowell County. Our shelters are designed to meet individuals and families where they are, offering compassionate care and wrap-around supports to help each resident work toward long-term stability and self-sufficiency.
John Thompson Center for Men
The John Thompson Center serves up to 21 men and provides 24-hour emergency shelter and support services in a structured, yet low-barrier environment. Men are welcome to stay for up to 12 months as they work to overcome challenges contributing to their homelessness.
Our team walks alongside each resident to identify and address barriers such as unemployment, substance use disorder, mental health challenges, criminal justice involvement, or lack of identification. Through peer support, faith-based guidance, and referrals to local service providers, we help men rebuild their confidence and prepare for a stable, independent future.
The Friendship Home for Women and Children
The Friendship Home provides a safe haven for up to 37 women and children, offering both immediate refuge and long-term support in a nurturing, family-centered environment.
Our goal is to empower women and children as they rebuild their lives — whether they are healing from trauma, working toward family reunification, or overcoming barriers such as substance use disorder, mental illness, or domestic violence. Staff offer individualized case management, parenting and life-skills support, and connections to local resources to help mothers and children thrive.
At The Friendship Home, we believe every woman and child deserves not just a place to stay but a pathway to hope, healing, and home.
HPWNC (Homeless Project of WNC)
HPWNC, The Homeless Project of WNC team supports unsheltered individuals with substance use disorder and co-occurring disorders navigate complex systems.
Services include support with applying for Medicaid, SNAP, housing, MATCH referrals, detox/treatment referrals, harm reduction, and a network of community support tailored to meet your unique needs.
Case Managers advocate on your behalf, empowering you to discover and create the life you envision. Peer Support Specialist walk alongside individuals on their recovery journey, meeting them where they are and challenging the stigma and myths surrounding mental health and substance use disorders.
Housing Services
Mission Ministries Alliance provides housing stabilization, homelessness prevention and diversion, financial assistance, and rapid rehousing services guided by the Housing First Model.
Housing First is a nationally recognized approach that prioritizes providing safe and stable housing as the first step in helping individuals and families end their homelessness. It is based on the belief that people need basic necessities — like food and a place to live — before they can effectively address other challenges such as employment, budgeting, or recovery from substance use.
Once housed, participants receive ongoing case management and supportive services to help them maintain stability, set personal goals, and improve their overall quality of life.
Rapid Rehousing & Financial Assistance
Through our Rapid Rehousing Program, Mission Ministries Alliance offers temporary financial assistance and housing case management to support individuals and families quickly move from homelessness into permanent housing.
Support may include help with security deposits, rental assistance, and utility costs, combined with personalized case management to address barriers and maintain housing stability.
Our housing team walks alongside each household, helping them rebuild their foundation, connect to community supports, and establish long-term success in permanent housing.
Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing
In response to Tropical Storm Helene, Mission Ministries Alliance has launched the Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing Program. This initiative provides temporary financial assistance, housing navigation, and case management for individuals and families who became homeless as a result of the storm.
The program helps survivors secure safe, stable housing while connecting them to disaster recovery resources, mental health supports, and community services. Our team works closely with each participant to remove barriers, restore stability, and ensure every survivor has the opportunity to rebuild their life with dignity and hope.
Street Outreach
We provide a street outreach program that identifies and engages individuals and families living in unsheltered locations, such as in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, encampments, and on the streets. We reach people through our Street Outreach program who might not otherwise seek assistance, and we ensure that people’s basic needs are met while supporting them along pathways toward housing stability. We provide case management, life skills education, crisis counseling, connection to community partners, peer supports, harm reduction, and - most importantly - housing. We also provide food, clothing, blankets, toiletry items, and other necessities to those experiencing unsheltered homelessness.