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Addressing the Growing Homeless Crisis in Greensboro: A Call for Long-Term Solutions

Breaking the Cycle: Why Greensboro Needs Bold Leadership and Long-Term Solutions to End the Homeless Crisis

Nicky Smith, Greensboro City Council candidate, standing proudly with a vision to enhance public safety, strengthen community partnerships, and build a brighter future for Greensboro.

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.

Why Are Homeless Individuals Drawn to Greensboro?

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.

What Can Be Done to Make Communities Safer?

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:

  • Enhanced mental health and addiction services: Many individuals experiencing homelessness suffer from untreated mental illness or substance abuse. Expanding access to these services could reduce the number of people living on the streets.
  • Collaboration with nonprofits and faith-based organizations: Partnering with local organizations already serving the homeless population can amplify impact and effectively allocate resources.
  • Job training and placement programs: Empowering individuals with skills and job opportunities can help them regain independence and stability.

Addressing the Homeless Camps: A Comprehensive Plan

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:

  • Develop transitional housing communities: Tiny home villages or other affordable, temporary housing solutions can bridge individuals moving from the streets to permanent housing.
  • Secure state and federal funding: While homelessness often falls under the purview of local governments, state and federal agencies must play a role in providing financial and logistical support.
  • Implement data-driven solutions: Tracking the effectiveness of various programs and adjusting strategies based on results can ensure that resources are used efficiently.

Is Homelessness a Local or National Issue?

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:

  • Expanding affordable housing initiatives.
  • Increasing funding for mental health care.
  • Addressing systemic issues like unemployment and wage inequality.

Learning from Other Cities

Greensboro doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel. Cities like Salt Lake City and Houston have achieved measurable success through innovative strategies such as:

  • Housing First policies prioritize getting individuals off the streets and into stable housing.
  • Partnerships with businesses and nonprofits to create employment opportunities.
  • Comprehensive case management that ensures individuals receive the support they need to maintain stability.

The Need for Visionary Leadership

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

 


 

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Nicky Smith
Candidate for Greensboro City Council