Mary Ann Priester, PhD, MSW
Senior Management Analyst
Mecklenburg County Community Support Services
Housing, Innovation, and Stabilization 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.
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.
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 October 31, 2025, there are 2,333 individuals in 1,928 households experiencing homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. This total includes 1,563 single individuals, 142 unaccompanied youth, 182 households with minor children (totaling 572 people), and 38 families with multiple adults (totaling 67 people). Included in the total of 2,333 individuals, 142 are homeless Veterans, and 705 are individuals who are experiencing chronic homelessness. Based on these data, the minimum number of households experiencing homelessness right now (and therefore, the minimum number of housing units and/or subsidies needed) in Charlotte-Mecklenburg is 1,928.
Considering inflow (into homelessness) and outflow (out of homelessness), here are some noteworthy trends:
- Between September 2025 and October 2025, there was a 7 person decrease in the total number of people experiencing homelessness. There has been a 28% (or 911 person) decrease in overall homelessness since October 2024.
- In October 2025, 600 individuals entered homelessness (inflow) and 512 people exited (outflow). Of the 600 individuals entering homelessness, 62% (374) were newly identified, 12% (72) returned to homelessness from permanent housing, and 26% (154) returned from an inactive status. Of the 512 individuals exiting homelessness, 35% (181) moved to permanent housing and 65% (331) exited homelessness to an inactive status, which means that they had not been engaged in services for the previous 30 days.
- Between September 2025 and October 2025, overall homelessness decreased for families with minor children and multiple adult households. Homelessness increased slightly among all other populations with the largest increase among persons that meet the criteria for chronic homelessness (a 20 person increase). Finally, the median number of days it takes to exit homelessness into housing decreased 48 days from 276 days to 228 days and the average number of days it takes to exit homelessness into housing decreased from 543 days to 408 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 (75% vs. 33%) while individuals who identify as White, non-Hispanic experience homelessness at a rate much lower than their prevalence in the population (16% vs 45%). Individuals who identify as Hispanic/Latino only 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 latest One Number data show 2,333 people in 1,928 households experiencing homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, a 28% decrease since October 2024 but still higher than the system’s housing capacity. As highlighted in last month’s blog, inflow continues to drive system pressure. Six hundred people entered homelessness in October, most for the first time. Racial inequities remain significant. Individuals who identify as Black/African American make up 75% of the homeless population but only 33% of county residents, reflecting the structural disparities and cost-burden risks experienced disproportionately by certain racial groups in our community. Hispanic/Latino individuals continue to be underrepresented in the data despite making up 14% of the county population, indicating possible gaps in access or identification. Together, these trends underscore the ongoing need to reduce inflow, expand deeply affordable housing, and address the inequities that place certain groups at far greater risk of homelessness.
