The Wilmington City Council and New Hanover Board of Commissioners continue discussions on how to address homelessness in the area, recently hearing data and first-hand accounts from staff.

In April, a joint resolution from the bipartisan government allowed city and county staff to assess the inventory of existing homeless services, current providers and potential opportunities, as well as obtain first-hand accounts from members of the homeless community. Staff also identified opportunities to address gaps in services, which was presented as a next step at Thursday’s joint city-county meeting.

About the local homeless population

Regarding homeless people in the Wilmington area, county staff reported that approximately 319 people were homeless during a point-in-time count in January 2023. That figure comes from data acquired through the Continuum of Care Homeless Management Information System, hosted by the Cape Fear Council of Governments.

Eliza Baldwin, the county’s chief strategy officer, said those people may not have found shelter or had to settle for overnight accommodations, but local shelters are often at capacity. Even with increased capacity through new projects underway, there is still a gap to fill, she said.

About 90 percent of the homeless population is in New Hanover County, with the remainder in Pender and Brunswick counties, according to Andrea Stough, director of homeless services for the Cape Fear Council of Governments.

Stough also pointed out that most of the homeless people in New Hanover County had a last permanent residence in the county, so staff believes most of the homeless population does not come from elsewhere.

First-hand hearing situations

County and city staff interviewed 27 people who are part of New Hanover County’s homeless population, providing a better understanding of what community members face and how they ended up in their situations.

Some of the reasons people became homeless included inability to meet the cost of living, medical issues, domestic violence, substance abuse issues and experiences of incarceration.

Participants also reported challenges finding housing due to application fees, security deposits, background and credit checks, and income requirements. Shelter, employment, and immediate needs such as bathrooms, showers, laundry, and cell phones were also not readily available. Transportation barriers also complicated their ability to travel to areas to access these resources.

Many participants said they wished others knew that not all homeless people suffer from addiction or choose to become homeless.

“They express a deep need for security and safety to overcome their current situation,” Baldwin said. “And while many acknowledge the existence of many resources, they also emphasized the tedious and often overwhelming process of finding and claiming them.”

What is the way forward?

Staff highlighted three opportunities for success, including improving the Council of Governments’ data systems, hotlines and case management, as well as building adequate capacity among existing service providers.

The second option was to increase the capacity of facilities to meet the needs of the homeless population. This could include increasing the number of low-barrier day shelters and spaces that meet the basic needs of people experiencing homelessness. It also includes creating mental health-focused treatment and day centres with supportive housing options.

The third option is to put in place more favorable regulations, incentives for developers and property managers, and housing assistance. This could include incentives for property managers to offset the risks associated with people in need, housing assistance programs, and updates to land use regulations to increase access to housing.

County Strategy Officer Jennifer Rigby noted that there are barriers to group homes, but that reevaluating land use regulations could make it easier to provide centers and facilities. Commissioner Jonathan Barfield Jr. and Mayor Bill Saffo also stressed that when it comes to providing larger centers and facilities, no matter where they are proposed, elected officials must be prepared to face NIMBYism (Not in My Backyard) and community resistance.

To give elected officials a more robust recommendation and get a sense of how much funding is needed, staff recommended meeting again with city and county officials in about 90 days.

This article was originally published on Wilmington StarNews: New Hanover and Wilmington staff provide data on local homelessness