ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Over the weekend, Asheville experienced cold and snow, prompting the Asheville-Buncombe Homeless Coalition to declare a Code Purple.

What You Need To Know

Asheville-Buncombe Homeless Coalition declared a Code Purple over the weekend

The Costello House will now run 24/7 through the winter season

Marshall Graves, a cook at the Costello house, says this will fill a great need

A Code Purple is when shelters volunteer to provide emergency overflow protection from the elements. 

One of those shelters is the Costello House, run by the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry.

It provides warm beds and meals for men experiencing homelessness.

The executive director of ABCCM, Rev. Scott Rogers, said last week the house officially started operating 24/7. Meaning, regardless of if there is a Code Purple or not, it will run 24 hours a day in the winter season. One of the men who helps run this shelter knows how vital this is.

Marshall Graves is a veteran who experienced homelessness for six months. He remembers cold nights.

“They just want someone to talk to, to understand, 'hey I’m a little down right now,'” he said.

Graves was a cook in the Marines, and now helps prepare meals at the shelter. 

“We’re willing to give them a helping hand,” he said.

The Code Purple expired on Sunday.