Homelessness Crisis in North Carolina: Why It’s Growing Faster Than the Nation?

Race Day Live  The homelessness problem in North Carolina is becoming worse every year. Local housing and shelter organizations count the number of people without homes during the annual “point-in-time” survey.

This count is important because it determines the amount of federal funding the state gets from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The latest 2024 survey showed alarming numbers. A total of 11,626 people in the state are homeless, including 2,070 children.

This is a 19.2% increase compared to last year. In the Triad area, Greensboro and High Point reported 665 homeless individuals, while Winston-Salem had 627.

Dr. Latonya Agard, who leads the NC Coalition to End Homelessness, explained how her organization helps people. They provide resources and work to make the process easier for people seeking help.

By creating one application for federal funding, they make it simpler for communities to access resources.

She believes teamwork is essential to solving this big problem. “We can only solve this if we work together,” she said.

But the problem is not slowing down. A report from the NC Housing Finance Agency showed that homelessness in the state has grown by 50% between 2010 and 2024.

This is much higher than the national increase of 17% during the same time.

Dr. Agard pointed out the main issue: not enough affordable housing. She explained, “Our state has a minimum wage of $7.25, which hasn’t changed in years.

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Meanwhile, costs and inflation keep going up, and there are fewer homes available. This creates a big challenge, leaving many people without a place to live.”

North Carolina’s growing homelessness crisis highlights the need for better housing solutions, higher wages, and more support for those in need.

Advocates like Dr. Agard are working hard to bring attention to the issue, but lasting change will require action from policymakers, businesses, and communities across the state.

This alarming trend serves as a wake-up call for everyone. The time to act is now—before the problem grows even larger.

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