Homeless

Mecklenburg County, Charlotte and partner agencies are preparing to open additional space in homeless shelters this week because of extremely cold temperatures that are likely to drop into the teens and stay below freezing Christmas weekend.

The Southern Comfort Inn housed around 150 to 200 people, according to city officials, who otherwise were at risk of homelessness. The city says that they have offered monetary assistance to help keep its residents housed and helped connect them to other services within the community.

Homelessness rose to record levels in Mecklenburg County during the pandemic. The rise was driven in part by an increase in families entering homelessness and the city's lack of affordable housing.

Staff members with Mecklenburg County's Community Support Services are struggling to find landlords who will rent to the former residents of the homeless encampment known as "Tent City."

Each Wednesday, three local organizations distribute food and supplies to Charlotte residents experiencing homelessness.

During the pandemic, millions of dollars in aid have flowed to programs that fight homelessness and housing insecurity. In Charlotte, the transitional housing program Gracious Hands didn't take a penny, yet it's continuing to grow and help women and children in need.

There's a lot of energy going into expanding affordable housing in Charlotte. But for people moving out of hotels or homelessness, the need doesn't stop there. Furnishing that new place can be a struggle. A Charlotte group called Beds for Kids is celebrating 10 years of fighting what it calls "furniture poverty."

Mecklenburg County's proposed budget for the new fiscal year includes $12 million for a variety of housing and homelessness programs. That includes $2.5 million to help the Salvation Army buy a hotel and convert it into a homeless shelter.

Charlotte leaders last week announced an effort to wipe out homelessness and expand affordable housing within five years. It's not the first time Charlotte has tried this, but some think this has a better chance at succeeding.

A coalition of city, county, nonprofit and business leaders launched an effort Thursday to develop a five-year strategic plan to eradicate homelessness and expand low-income housing in Charlotte. The goal is to begin carrying out the plan by fall.