Get Help

Find help near Hot Springs.

Organizations that serve people in the 28743 ZIP code, closest first.

911Emergency 988Crisis, call or text 211Not sure where to start? Free, 24/7

NC 211 is free, open 24/7, in most languages. Dial 2-1-1 or 1-888-892-1162.

RHSA does not currently accept individual applications for assistance. This guide will help you find help from other organizations.

Programs, hours, and phone numbers change. Call ahead when you can.

Food

Hot Springs has a pantry at the Salvation Army, two 24/7 shelves, and a monthly distribution. For help finding more food or signing up for SNAP, call the MANNA Food Helpline at 828-290-9749. NC Cooperative Extension keeps a current county food list.

Hot Springs and Spring Creek

Sara Jo’s Station pantry

Shelf-stable food. Open to anyone.

  • When: 24/7
  • 39 NW US 25/70

Elsewhere in Madison County

Ebbs Chapel Community Center: food pantry

Food pantry.

  • When: Saturdays, 9 to 11 a.m.
  • Laurel Valley Rd., Mars Hill

Forks of Ivy Baptist Church

Food. Local delivery may be available.

  • When: 1st Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon
  • 3223 Old Mars Hill Hwy., Weaverville
  • 828-380-1026
Call 828-380-1026

My Sister’s Attic community fridge

Fresh food, no questions asked.

  • When: 24/7
  • 3477 US 213, Marshall

Walnut Community Center

Fresh produce.

  • When: Wednesdays, 1 to 5 p.m.
  • 46 School Rd., Marshall

Barnard Supply Hub

Shelf-stable food.

  • When: Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • 1995 Barnard Rd., Marshall

ROAR Mutual Aid Hub: food and household items

Food and household items.

  • When: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • 798 Walnut Creek Rd., Marshall

Madison County Health Department: food shelf

Shelf-stable food.

  • When: Weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • 493 Medical Park Dr., Marshall
  • 828-649-3531
Call 828-649-3531

Marshall and Mars Hill libraries

Free pantries.

  • When: Library hours

Meals and food programs

Asheville and Buncombe

Tennessee

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Heat and bills

Apply to Madison County DSS first. Households with someone 60 or older or disabled can apply for heating help December 1 to 31. Everyone else applies starting in January.

Madison County

Neighbors in Need

Short-term help with heating, power bills, and food. Heating help starts the first Tuesday in December.

  • Who: Madison County residents. People 60 and older apply to DSS first
  • Marshall Presbyterian Church, 165 S. Main St., Marshall
  • 828-206-2001. Tuesdays, 1 to 3 p.m.
Call 828-206-2001

St. Andrew’s Catholic Church

Help with electric and gas bills when funds allow.

Call 828-689-3719

ROAR Mutual Aid Hub: firewood and propane

Firewood and propane vouchers.

  • Who: Ask
  • 798 Walnut Creek Rd., Marshall
  • Firewood 615-628-7439
Call 615-628-7439

Community Action Opportunities

Weatherization: air sealing, insulation, and heating system repair or replacement.

Call 828-252-2495

Asheville and Buncombe

Tennessee

None found that serve 28743 residents.

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Housing and shelter

Madison County has no emergency shelter. If you need a place to stay tonight, call NC 211. The nearest shelters are in Asheville.

Madison County

Hot Springs Housing Authority

Public housing for up to 60 low- and moderate-income households.

Call 828-622-3237

Madison County Housing Authority

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and family public housing. The voucher waitlist was closed as of February 2024.

Call 828-689-2721

Asheville shelters and day services

ABCCM Code Purple

Overnight shelter, 6 p.m. to 7 a.m., on nights forecast at 32°F or colder.

  • Who: No ID or background check. ABCCM says it accepts everyone. The 2026–27 plan is not yet posted
  • Transformation Village, 30 Olin Haven Way
  • 828-398-6011
Call 828-398-6011 Website

Homeless veterans: see Veterans.

Tennessee

No Tennessee shelter confirmed it takes North Carolina residents.

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Home repair and recovery

Start with MARC. It is Madison County's long-term recovery group and knows which programs are still open. Many Helene programs closed in 2025 and 2026.

Madison County

Regional and statewide

Tennessee

None found. The Cocke County recovery group serves Cocke County residents only.

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Crisis and mental health

If you or someone near you is in crisis, call or text 988, day or night. For a mental health crisis at home, RHA Mobile Crisis comes to you.

Madison County and statewide

Substance use

Asheville and Buncombe

Tennessee

No Tennessee crisis service confirmed it serves North Carolina residents. From 28743, call 988. It connects you to North Carolina help.

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Health care

The Hot Springs Health Program runs four clinics in the county, including one in Hot Springs. Madison County has no hospital. The nearest emergency rooms are in Asheville and in Newport and Greeneville, Tennessee.

Madison County

Hot Springs Health Program, Primary Care Access Plan and Medication Assistance

Income-based coverage for clinic patients, and help paying for medicines. Medicaid members do not qualify for medication help.

Call 828-649-3500

Library telehealth rooms

Private rooms for video doctor visits at all three libraries.

Asheville and Buncombe

Mission Hospital

Adult and children's emergency rooms. The region's Level I trauma center. Financial assistance for uninsured patients.

  • Who: Anyone. Financial assistance up to 400% of the federal poverty level
  • 509 Biltmore Ave.
  • 828-213-1111
Call 828-213-1111 Website

MAHEC

Family medicine, OB/GYN, dental, and psychiatry.

  • Who: Serves NC's 16 westernmost counties. Call about new patients
  • 121 Hendersonville Rd.
  • 828-257-4400, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Call 828-257-4400 Website

Tennessee

Emergency rooms must treat anyone, regardless of ability to pay or state.

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Seniors and disability

Madison County Community Services runs the senior center, senior meals, and in-home aide help. Land of Sky supports family caregivers across the region.

Madison County In-Home Aide Services

Help at home for older adults who cannot fully care for themselves.

Call 828-649-2722

NC Vocational Rehabilitation

Job training and placement for people with disabilities.

  • Who: People with disabilities
  • 190 Health Care Ln., Marshall
  • 828-649-2962
Call 828-649-2962

No Tennessee senior or disability programs were found that serve 28743 residents.

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Rides

The Madison County Transportation Authority gives rides within the county and to Asheville. Book ahead.

Garage Goblins

Volunteer car repair.

Asheville's Mountain Mobility serves Buncombe residents only. Tennessee transit services did not confirm trips to or from North Carolina.

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Veterans

Start with the Madison County Veterans Services Office. It files VA claims for free. In a crisis, call 988 and press 1.

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Children and families

Madison County Partnership for Children (Smart Start) is the first call for child care and early learning help.

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Emergency alerts

Sign up for county alerts first. It is free and is the fastest way to hear about evacuations and road closures.

Madison County

For a fire or medical emergency, always call 911. The fire department numbers above may not be staffed.

Regional and statewide

ReadyNC

The state preparedness site: make a plan, build a kit, find shelters, check road conditions, and use a generator safely.

Website

WNC Radio Project

Free radio workshops, GMRS repeaters, amateur radio and mesh networks, and Sunday nets for Western NC.

  • Contact form on site
Website

Tennessee

None found. Tennessee emergency agencies serve Tennessee residents. For a disaster at a 28743 home, call the Red Cross Western NC Chapter above.

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Libraries

All three branches offer free computers and Wi-Fi, telehealth rooms, a free food pantry, and job help. See Madison County Public Library.

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Know of a program we should list, or see something out of date? Contact us.

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