Mary Ann Priester, PhD, MSW
Senior Management Analyst
Mecklenburg County Community Support Services
Homelessness represents one of the most visible and severe forms of housing instability. While housing instability reflects households at risk of losing housing, homelessness occurs when households lose access to safe, stable, and sustainable housing entirely. Understanding homelessness requires examining both how households enter homelessness and how quickly they are able to exit into permanent housing.
This blog is the third in a five-part series examining findings from the 2025 State of Housing Instability and Homelessness (SOHIH) Report. This post takes a deeper look at homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, including how many households experience homelessness, how long households remain homeless, and how access to permanent housing influences homelessness outcomes.
DEFINING HOMELESSNESS
Homelessness refers to situations in which individuals or families lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This includes people staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or places not meant for human habitation, such as vehicles, encampments, or unsheltered outdoor locations. Homelessness often occurs after households experience housing instability, such as eviction, loss of income, or inability to afford rising housing costs. While homelessness is the most visible stage of the housing continuum, it reflects broader structural housing challenges, including limited access to deeply affordable housing and rental assistance.
THOUSANDS OF HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS EACH YEAR
The data show that thousands of households experience homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg each year. The One Number, which measures the number of households actively experiencing homelessness and those housed through the homeless services system, provides insight into both the scale of homelessness and the community’s progress in resolving it.
As of February 2026, more than 2,700 individuals in over 2,200 households were experiencing homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. This includes single adults, families with children, and unaccompanied youth. While some households experience homelessness briefly, others remain homeless for extended periods due to barriers accessing permanent housing. These data reflect both inflow into homelessness and the capacity of the housing system to help households exit homelessness.
MOST HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE NEWLY HOMELESS
Most households experiencing homelessness entered the homeless services system for the first time. This reflects the ongoing impact of housing instability and the continued inflow of newly homeless households. When housing costs increase faster than incomes, more households become vulnerable to housing loss. Even short-term financial disruptions can result in eviction or displacement, increasing inflow into homelessness. Reducing homelessness requires addressing both the inflow of newly homeless households and the barriers that prevent households from exiting homelessness.
CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS REFLECTS LONG-TERM HOUSING BARRIERS
Chronic homelessness refers to individuals with disabilities who have experienced prolonged or repeated episodes of homelessness. Households experiencing chronic homelessness often face additional barriers to housing stability, including health challenges, limited income, and long-term housing instability. While households experiencing chronic homelessness represent a smaller portion of the overall homeless population, they often require longer periods of assistance to achieve housing stability. Permanent supportive housing and long-term rental assistance are critical interventions for resolving chronic homelessness.
EXITS TO PERMANENT HOUSING ARE ESSENTIAL TO REDUCING HOMELESSNESS
Exits to permanent housing represent the most effective way to reduce homelessness. When households move into stable housing, they exit homelessness and are less likely to experience future housing loss. Permanent housing interventions, including rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing, help households achieve housing stability. The availability of these interventions directly influences homelessness outcomes across the community. Increasing access to permanent housing allows households to exit homelessness more quickly and reduces the overall number of households experiencing homelessness at any given time.
MOST HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE NEWLY HOMELESS
Most households experiencing homelessness entered the homeless services system for the first time. This reflects the ongoing impact of housing instability and the continued inflow of newly homeless households. When housing costs increase faster than incomes, more households become vulnerable to housing loss. Even short-term financial disruptions can result in eviction or displacement, increasing inflow into homelessness. Reducing homelessness requires addressing both the inflow of newly homeless households and the barriers that prevent households from exiting homelessness.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Homelessness reflects both the impact of housing instability and the availability of housing solutions. While emergency shelter provides critical short-term support, permanent housing is essential to resolving homelessness. The data show that homelessness is influenced by both inflow into homelessness and exits to permanent housing. When housing instability increases and affordable housing remains limited, more households enter homelessness. When permanent housing is available, households can exit homelessness more quickly. Reducing homelessness requires both preventing housing instability and expanding access to permanent housing. Investments in deeply affordable housing, rental assistance, and permanent supportive housing help ensure that households can achieve and maintain housing stability. Understanding homelessness within the broader housing continuum helps clarify both the causes of homelessness and the solutions required to address it. As of February 2026, more than 2,700 individuals in over 2,200 households were experiencing homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, including close to 800 individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. These data highlight both the scale of homelessness and the importance of expanding access to permanent housing to help households exit homelessness.
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