Originally founded as a home for unwed mothers and their children in 1903, Eliada Homes has evolved to offer a myriad of programs to the community according to Eliada Homes’ Director of Development Tara Campuzano.

Current offerings include programs for children with mental health trauma and youth aging out of foster care, a preschool program, foster care and adoption services, job training, equine therapy, and a working farm to serve the children living on campus at Eliada.

Eliada offers the largest continuum of care from birth to age 25. Between 400 and 600 people are served annually by Eliada’s programming, and about 150 people are employed by the organization, according to Campuzano. 

The organization and its facilities continue to expand, as there will be a new building with additional classrooms opening soon, more teachers were hired in the summer of 2023, and they have recently opened another assessment facility to help children enter the programs they need. Seventy-one additional childcare slots were added to meet the greatest need in the community — childcare for infants and one- to two-year olds.

A variety of partnerships help the organization provide these services to the community, according to Campuzano. Grants, event sponsorships, business sponsorships, and proceeds from community events all go to budget relief for Eliada. The largest community event, the annual Fall Festival and Corn Maze, attracts about 12,000 visitors annually.

CEO Cindy Davis West said Medicaid offers funding for behavioral health support and healthcare, as do Dogwood Health Trust and Vaya Health. Other major supporters include Warren Wilson College, the City of Asheville, Publix, a variety of community groups, many churches, and a large number of individual volunteers.

Businesses also partner with Eliada for workforce opportunities in Eliada Students Training for Advancement — a program for young adults aged 18 to 25. Scholarships have been offered for participants in areas such as engineering and healthcare from area businesses including Pratt & Whitney, according to Campuzano.

The ESTA program served 55 youth in the past year. Of those, 73% had unstable housing, 25% were early parenting or pregnant, and 29% were in foster care. Of those youth, 67% increased life skills, 58% became employed, and 60% achieved stable housing. The ESTA program is also a part of the Healthy Opportunities Program within the state with Dogwood Trust. They served 126 families in our communities with food boxes to address food insecurity.

Area businesses participate in charity drives hosted by Eliada to help provide children with specific supplies, and the businesses have real joy in handing the supplies to Eliada, according to Campuzano. 

Eliada also participates in networking groups with the Asheville Area and the Henderson County Chambers of Commerce. Campuzano said Eliada works with other nonprofits and builds relationships with those that connect with their mission, and nonprofits help each other match donor passion to dollars to help support each other.

“I love seeing the level of connections and relationships in Western North Carolina,” Campuzano said. “No one is working against each other. We have a strong community to help build everyone up.”