Mecklenburg County officials presented the 2025 State of Housing Instability and Homelessness report on Tuesday and discussed what needs to be done to keep up with the demand for affordable housing.
The report shows a small drop in the overall number of people experiencing homelessness in Mecklenburg County this year. But the report also found an 11% jump in people becoming homeless for the first time over the past two years.
City and county leaders, along with nonprofit groups, say affordable housing remains in short supply. They point to redevelopment and rising property costs as some of the main reasons.
Roof Above CEO Liz Clasen-Kelly says as the county keeps growing, both government and private investments will be crucial for building more affordable housing.
"It’s really incumbent upon government and private philanthropy to think about how we intervene to make sure families and households still have a place to call home in our community. That’s what I see when I look at the gap in front of us,” Clasen-Kelly said.
Officials say Mecklenburg County’s population growth from 2015 to 2024 has only added pressure to an already limited supply of affordable homes.
