Supporting transitional housing for women in North Carolina

Support for housing stability helps women build a healthier future

UnitedHealthcare's $400,000 investment will help ABCCM's Transformation Village expand transitional housing and support for women experiencing homelessness.

October 5, 2026 | 1 minute read

Stable housing is one of the strongest predictors of long-term health.

Through an analysis of adults who were unable to pay their mortgage, rent or utility bills in the past 12 months, the CDC found a strong association between unaffordable housing and poor health, including an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension and other illnesses.¹

Importantly, this research shows that supportive housing interventions can increase long-term housing stability and improve health outcomes for people living with depression, anxiety and HIV.

While these findings are encouraging, providing a place to stay is just the first step in addressing homelessness.

Lasting change requires support strategies that address the wide range of underlying causes of homelessness and put people on a sustainable pathway to independence and economic stability.

Helping women experiencing homelessness in North Carolina

Homelessness in North Carolina²

11,000+ people

were experiencing homelessness in North Carolina in January 2024

37%

increase in homelessness in North Carolina between 2019 and 2024

Nearly 1 in 4

individuals experiencing homelessness are member of families with children

Veteran support

Woman and the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. vetern population, creating an increasing need for services designed to meet the unique needs of woman veterans and their families³

Transformation Village, a transitional living facility operated by Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM), has developed into a vital resource for women facing housing instability in North Carolina.

At its Asheville location, Transformation Village Campus provides more than 130 beds for women experiencing homelessness, mothers with children and veterans. Some stay for just a short time, while others may reside for up to two years. Beyond housing, the Village offers residents "hope, healing, health and a home" in the form of counseling, workforce development and training, and access to additional support services.

Through a network that includes more than 300 congregations and some 6,000 volunteers, ABCCM has developed an ecosystem of care that equips women to move beyond the challenges that led them to seek assistance.

Transformation Village does not operate as a stand-alone housing program. It is part of a broader community ecosystem that brings together churches, volunteers, health care providers, behavioral health partners, employers, educational institutions and community organizations.

That network allows ABCCM to respond to multiple needs at the same time rather than asking women and families to navigate fragmented systems on their own.

To ensure the approach is comprehensive, ABCCM provides this support through a four-phase program it refers to as the Steps to Success:

1. Stabilization and the provision of basic necessities

2. Life skills training (including more than 60 volunteer courses)

3. Education and professional training to prepare for living-wage jobs

4. Reintegration that leads to permanent housing

Creating pathways to long-term stability and improved health outcomes

Homelessness is an urgent and growing public health issue across the United States. In North Carolina alone, the number of individuals experiencing homelessness grew by 37% from 2019 to 2024. Of the more than 11,000 people affected, nearly one in four (24%) were members of a family with children.²

Since opening its doors in 2021, Transformation Village's approach has built on the work of its predecessor, the Steadfast House, and produced measurable results for the women it serves in Buncombe County.

According to ABCCM, after residents elect to move on from Transformation Village:

8 out of 10 leave with both a living-wage job and permanent housing
97% remain housed, employed and sober two years later

“No single organization can solve homelessness alone. It takes partners willing to look beyond immediate needs and invest in the whole person. UnitedHealthcare shares our belief that housing, health, behavioral health, employment and community support are deeply connected."

Brandon Wilson COO, ABCCM

To help strengthen ABCCM's ability to support women in the state, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina recently invested $400,000 in its efforts to expand housing capacity and advance systemic-level solutions to homelessness.

With the funding, ABCCM will also continue to develop deeper partnerships with local organizations providing support for mental health, substance use, and domestic and interpersonal violence.

Housing First does not mean Housing Only

ABCCM’s model is grounded in the belief that housing creates the stability from which everything else becomes possible. A safe place to live provides the foundation, but lasting stability comes from addressing the interconnected barriers that affect health, employment, family stability and economic mobility. Its model is not simply to help someone become housed, but to help create a pathway toward long-term independence and well-being through building intentional community.

"We know that housing and economic stability are critical to health," said Anita Bachmann, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina. "Transformation Village has established proven strategies to provide not just transitional housing but the support women need to overcome barriers and build a more secure future."