Western Carolina Community Action, Inc., now WNCSource, was founded in March 1965 in response to the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, which aimed to address poverty at its roots. Early initiatives in Henderson County included Youth Workforce Training, Transportation Work Mobile, Remedial Reading programs, and Pre-school Readiness programs.
In 1966, the agency expanded to include both Henderson and Transylvania Counties as a single Community Action Program. Over the years, we’ve operated various programs such as housing repairs, home weatherization, job training, food pantries, volunteer tax preparation, fuel assistance, nutrition and medical services.
In 2022, Western Carolina Community Action, Inc. evolved, becoming WNCSource. While our name reflects a fresh chapter, our 60-year unwavering commitment to empowering our Western North Carolina neighbors endures. We continue to forge vital pathways to self-reliance and healthier living, transforming lives every day.
Our goal is to continually evolve to meet the changing needs of our four-county service area, complementing rather than competing with other nonprofits to provide a comprehensive portfolio of community services.
We offer Head Start, Early Head Start, and NC Pre-K education programs in Henderson, Transylvania, Rutherford, and Polk Counties, laying a strong foundation for our youngest community members.
We provide essential transportation for the elderly and disabled, rural residents, as well as Medicare and Medicaid medical trips. Additionally, we operate the Apple Country Public Transit in Henderson County, ensuring accessible and reliable transit service for the community.
We began by constructing affordable housing units in Transylvania County. Today, we administer the Housing Choice Voucher and Family Self-Sufficiency programs, supporting low-income seniors, veterans, and families in Transylvania and Henderson Counties.
We operate two LunchPlus Congregate Meal sites and deliver meals, food boxes, liquid nutrition, and personal hygiene supplies to seniors in Transylvania County to promote health and well-being among our older population.
In 2022, Western Carolina Community Action became WNCSource. We remain focused on our mission: Working with communities and partners, WNCSource improves lives by creating pathways to self-reliance and healthier living. We achieve this, not through handouts, but by offering programs and services designed to empower people and transform lives.
Since its inception, WNCSource has been guided by five Executive Directors. John Leatherwood, Jr. served the longest tenure from 1969 to 1998. In 2015, the role of Executive Director evolved into Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and a Chief Financial Officer was added to the team. Our current CEO, David White, has faithfully served the organization for over 31 years and works closely with the WNCSource Board of Directors and the Management Team to provide impactful programs that build better futures and make a difference in our communities.
2025-2026 Housing Choice Voucher Program Income Limits by County and Family Size
Henderson County
1 Person in Family: $32,600
2 People in Family: $37,250
3 People in Family: $41,900
4 People in Family: $46,550
5 People in Family: $50,300
6 People in Family: $54,000
7 People in Family: $57,750
8 People in Family: $61,450
Transylvania County
1 Person in Family: $29,400
2 People in Family: $33,600
3 People in Family: $37,800
4 People in Family: $42,050
5 People in Family: $45,400
6 People in Family: $48,750
7 People in Family: $52,100
8 People in Family: $55,500