Once-charming mountain escape now battling homelessness homeowners say turned postcard city into no-go zone

Asheville, North Carolina, once a popular mountain destination, faces rising homelessness and crime after Hurricane Helene, with critics blaming decades of ineffective policies and political shifts. Former City Council member Carl Mumpower argues that liberal-led governance and defunded policing have exacerbated issues like public intoxication and encampments, while data shows a 9.1% increase in homelessness since 2025.