Mary Ann Priester
Senior Management Analyst
Mecklenburg County Community Support Services
Since its inception in 2019, the “One Number” has served as the primary benchmark for the number of people experiencing homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
Generated from the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), the One Number encompasses individuals enrolled in Emergency Shelter (ES), Transitional Housing (TH), Street Outreach (SO), Permanent Housing (PH) (if no move-in date to housing is recorded yet) and Coordinated Entry (CE) programs in HMIS. It includes both those experiencing sheltered homelessness and a portion of those experiencing unsheltered homelessness. It also provides a comprehensive By-Name List of each person experiencing homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
The Housing Data Snapshot, the hub for the latest data related to housing and homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, not only provides an overall count and demographics of homelessness by household type and subpopulation, it also highlights inflow to (Newly identified, Returns from Permanent Housing, Returns for Inactivity) and outflow from (Exit to Permanent Housing, Exit to Inactivity), homelessness.
This week’s blog post provides the most recent One Number update; a synopsis of recent dashboard updates; the latest One Number trends and analysis; and what this means for Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
LATEST DATA & TRENDS
As of May 31, 2025, there are 2,456 individuals experiencing homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. This total includes 1,607 single individuals, 162 unaccompanied youth, 198 households with minor children (totaling 632 people), and 32 families with multiple adults (totaling 56 people). Included in the total of 2,456 individuals, 155 are homeless Veterans, and 692 are individuals who are experiencing chronic homelessness. Based on these data, the minimum number of people experiencing homelessness right now (and therefore, the minimum number of housing units and/or subsidies needed) in Charlotte-Mecklenburg is 2,456.
Considering inflow (into homelessness) and outflow (out of homelessness), here are some noteworthy trends:
- Between April 2025 and May 2025, there was a 39 person increase in the total number of people experiencing homelessness. There has been a 16% (or 470 person) decrease in overall homelessness since May 2024.
- In May 2025, 579 individuals entered homelessness (inflow) and 480 people exited (outflow). Of the 579 individuals entering homelessness, 69% (399) were newly identified, 8% (46) returned to homelessness from permanent housing and 23% (134) returned from an inactive status. Of the 480 individuals exiting homelessness, 28% (133) moved to permanent housing and 72% (347) exited homelessness to an inactive status, which means that they had not been engaged in services for the previous 30 days.
- Between April 2025 and May 2025, homelessness increased among all household types and subpopulations except veterans. The number of veterans decreased by 9 persons. The number of people in households with minor children increased by 14 people; the number of single adults increased by 27 individuals; and the number of persons in multiple adult households increased by 9 people. The number of unaccompanied youth increased by 15; and the number of people experiencing chronic homelessness increased by 15. Finally, the median number of days it takes to exit homelessness into housing decreased 129 days from 329 days to 200 days and the average number of days it takes to exit homelessness into housing decreased from 654 days to 387 days. The median tells us the typical number of days it takes to exit homelessness into housing while the average includes long-stayers in shelter and people experiencing chronic homelessness
- According to the most recent One Number data, disaggregated by race and ethnicity, individuals who identify as Black/African American continue to experience homelessness at rates much higher than their proportion of the Mecklenburg County population (73% vs. 33%) while individuals who identify as White, non-Hispanic experience homelessness at a rate much lower than their prevalence in the population (14% vs 45%). Individuals who identify as Hispanic/Latino have a prevalence of 3% in the homeless population but comprise 14% of the Mecklenburg County population; this reflects a possible underrepresentation of the people who experience homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg and identify as Hispanic/Latino.
SO, WHAT
The One Number is the best snapshot available for the number of people actively experiencing homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. It provides the most accurate minimum number of people experiencing homeless and provides insights into the minimum number of housing units and subsidies needed today to address their homelessness. These data also provide timely insights into the number of people flowing into and out of the homeless services system. This month’s data reinforce both the progress Charlotte-Mecklenburg has made and the critical and urgent need that remains. The 16% decrease in homelessness since May 2024 suggests that coordinated strategies are working. Despite this progress, inflow continues to exceed outflow. Seven in ten people who entered the homeless services system in May were newly identified, while fewer than one in three people who exited the system, exited to a permanent housing destination. The high number of people experiencing chronic homelessness (692/28%) suggests the need for additional long-term and permanent housing subsidies and low-barrier, person-centered housing programs. The continued decline in veteran homelessness illustrates what targeted resources, accountability, and shared goals can achieve. Together, these data point to the need for expanded prevention efforts to reduce inflow and increased supportive housing capacity to accelerate permanent exits. Community-wide alignment around these priorities will be essential to sustaining momentum and making further progress in preventing and ending homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
