City of Asheville launches Downtown Plan and REST Team to address homelessness and crime
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Apr 25
City of Asheville launches Downtown Plan and REST Team to address homelessness and crime
5 articles · Updated · Fox News · Apr 25
The new initiatives include doubling police patrols downtown and deploying the REST Team, staffed by trained fire department personnel, to engage with homeless residents. Asheville’s 2026 Point-in-Time survey recorded 824 homeless people, a 9.1% annual increase.
Officials expanded the panhandling ordinance and are partnering with community groups to improve public safety, following a 40% police reduction and rising crime since Hurricane Helene. Federal relief of $1.4 billion has been allocated for housing recovery.
Critics argue decades of ineffective interventions and political imbalance worsened homelessness and disorder, impacting tourism and local businesses. The city aims to restore downtown safety and connect vulnerable residents to resources amid ongoing recovery efforts.
With its police force down 40%, can Asheville's new plan truly make downtown safe again?
With a $26 million budget gap, can Asheville afford its ambitious plans for safety and housing?
As billions in aid arrive for hurricane recovery, can Asheville also solve its downtown crisis?
Are Asheville's new crisis teams, pairing police with counselors, the future of urban safety?
How is a massive $290 million agreement quietly reshaping forests devastated by Hurricane Helene?