North Raleigh Today

The City of Raleigh approved the Unsheltered Homelessness Response Pilot Program, a holistic approach to support individuals without homes. The program addresses the lack of affordable housing, aiming to assist those living unsheltered in the City.

The Pilot Program includes three key components:

"Direct Housing Assistance: The cornerstone of the Pilot is direct housing assistance for individuals living unsheltered. This includes financial subsidy to help move into permanent housing, along with case management, and access to supportive services. The pilot will allocate $1,900,000 in direct flexible financial assistance to provide monthly subsidies to 40 households living in camps.

Homelessness Services System Support: Funds will be allocated to enhance support for the broader homelessness services system, including continued funding for homelessness prevention and diversion initiatives, as well as support for local nonprofits.

Coordinated Community Response: In conjunction with the Pilot, the City will work with local agencies and stakeholders to develop a community-wide unsheltered homelessness response strategy."

The City faces a significant challenge with over 6,000 individuals seeking homelessness support services, as reported by Raleigh Rescue Mission. The 2023 Wake County Point in Time Count revealed that more than 900 individuals experience homelessness in the county on any given night, a 200 percent increase since 2020.

The Pilot Program will allocate $1,990,000 towards repairing City-owned rental units and other affordable housing options to expand housing options for individuals exiting homelessness. This investment aims to increase the availability of safe and stable housing for those in need.

The approval of the Unsheltered Homelessness Response Pilot Program highlights the City’s commitment to addressing homelessness. The City has taken various actions in support of fair and affordable housing, including funding for emergency shelter units and approval of gap funding for affordable housing developments.

An event to provide resources for the unhoused is planned for June 13 at Moore Square, continuing the City’s efforts to build a more inclusive and equitable community for all residents.