The homeless crisis in Greensboro has been worsening for over a decade. Despite various efforts by city leadership, the issue persists and raises critical questions about what is being done—and what can be done—to provide sustainable solutions. With more homeless camps appearing across the city, rising healthcare costs from unpaid hospital visits, and concerns about public safety, it’s clear that a long-term plan is urgently needed.
Homelessness in Greensboro, North Carolina, has been a growing concern, with recent data indicating a significant increase in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness. The 2024 Point-In-Time Count reported 641 individuals without stable housing in Guilford County, a notable rise from the 426 to 482 range observed between 2021 and 2023.
One of the key questions we must address is: What is attracting homeless individuals to Greensboro? While the city’s efforts to provide emergency shelters, warming centers, and temporary housing solutions show compassion, they may also contribute to the problem. Greensboro is committed to addressing immediate needs, such as the winter shelter program in partnership with local churches and the Greensboro Urban Ministry. These programs are critical during severe weather events but are stop-gap measures, not solutions.
Without robust policies addressing the root causes of homelessness, these efforts may inadvertently make Greensboro a destination for homeless individuals seeking essential support. Cities like Greensboro that step in where state and federal systems fall short often bear an outsized burden, straining local resources and infrastructure.
The growing prevalence of homeless camps has raised concerns among Greensboro residents about public safety, cleanliness, and the strain on emergency services. While safety is paramount, simply disbanding these camps without providing viable alternatives only pushes the problem elsewhere.
To make communities safer, we need a balanced approach combining enforcement and compassion. Some steps include:
The proliferation of homeless camps highlights the need for permanent housing solutions. Successful models from other cities, such as the Housing First approach, prioritize providing stable housing as a foundation for addressing different issues like employment, addiction, or mental health. Greensboro can look to cities like Houston, which has significantly reduced homelessness by investing in permanent supportive housing and services.
Local leadership should also work to:
While Greensboro has taken significant steps, homelessness is not a challenge that can be solved locally. Federal and state governments must step up with policies and funding to address the root causes. This includes:
Greensboro doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel. Cities like Salt Lake City and Houston have achieved measurable success through innovative strategies such as:
What Greensboro needs now is leadership that is willing to go beyond band-aid solutions. Temporary shelters and warming centers are necessary in the short term, but they do not address the root of the problem. Leaders must work to create a long-term vision that combines compassion with pragmatic, data-driven policies.
The cost of inaction is too great—both human and economic. Hospitals bear the brunt of unpaid medical bills, businesses face challenges from encampments near commercial areas, and communities grapple with declining safety and quality of life. It’s time for Greensboro to develop a comprehensive, long-term plan that addresses homelessness.
By learning from other cities and leveraging partnerships with state and federal agencies, Greensboro can chart a path prioritizing dignity, safety, and sustainability for all its residents.
Other Reading Resources
Housing First
WFMY News 2 – Residents living in pallet homes are thankful for the temporary housing
Fox 8 News – New count shows more people facing homelessness in Guilford County
How Houston, Texas, is Reducing Homelessness
Greensboro Urban Ministry takes a new approach to winter sheltering with the help of local churches
Doorway Project Wraps up its Second Cold Weather Season
Fox 8 News – Greensboro city leaders work to find solution to growing homeless encampment
Rhino Times – Greensboro, High Point, And Guilford County To Meet On Homelessness
The Salvation Army of Greensboro Emergency Shelter
Let’s build the future our city deserves. Greensboro is ready for a new era—let’s get to work.