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Homelessness is a pressing issue in Fayetteville, NC, and reflects broader challenges faced across the state and nation. With the recent approval of the first phase of Cape Fear River Park, the city is poised to enhance community spaces and encourage development. However, the displacement of 25-30 unhoused individuals residing in the park’s proposed location raises important questions about how we can balance urban growth with the need for compassionate and effective solutions that combat homelessness (WNCN, 2024).
Local Context: Fayetteville’s Approach to Homelessness
The Cape Fear River Park project is part of a $35 million bond initiative aimed at revitalizing Fayetteville. While the planned park promises green spaces and opportunities for recreation, its construction will necessitate the relocation of unhoused residents. The city’s Impact Reduction Program, supported by remaining American Rescue Plan funds, focuses on cleaning encampments and connecting individuals to resources. Yet, these resources are limited, and Mayor Mitch Colvin has called for additional funding to address the growing need (Fayetteville Observer, 2024).
Fayetteville’s response reflects a mix of short-term solutions, such as temporary housing and hotel accommodations, and long-term challenges, including the need to provide sustainable services and prevent displacement without support. Council members like Mario Benavente have emphasized the importance of comprehensive planning to ensure that individuals are not left without resources during this transition (WNCN, 2024).
Statewide Trends: Homelessness in North Carolina
The challenges seen in Fayetteville are mirrored across North Carolina, particularly in the wake of natural disasters like Hurricane Helene. Western NC experienced a 20% increase in homelessness in 2024, with some regions reporting spikes as high as 29% (NC Housing Coalition, 2024). The storm displaced thousands and highlighted systemic vulnerabilities, such as rising housing costs, limited inventory, and the conversion of long-term rentals into short-term accommodations like Airbnbs. Asheville, for instance, has seen an 89% increase in home values since 2015, making it nearly impossible for many workers to afford housing (Carolina Public Press, 2024).
North Carolina’s Continuums of Care have noted an increasing number of individuals experiencing homelessness for the first time, many of whom are working adults or retirees. This shift underscores the urgent need for affordable housing, disaster recovery efforts, and resources tailored to the evolving demographics of homelessness (NC Housing Coalition, 2024).
National Perspective: A Growing Crisis
Homelessness is at a record high nationwide, with 653,104 people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2023—a 12.1% increase from the previous year (HUD, 2023). Unsheltered homelessness, in particular, affects nearly 40% of the homeless population, disproportionately impacting people of color, gender-expansive individuals, and those with disabilities. Chronic homelessness has doubled since 2016, further straining an under-resourced system (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2023).
Systemic barriers, such as racial discrimination and a severe shortage of affordable housing, exacerbate these challenges. In 2023, there were only 34 affordable units available for every 100 renters earning below 30% of the area median income. This gap is particularly acute in smaller states and rural regions, where homelessness rates are disproportionately high (Urban Institute, 2023).
Moving Forward: Solutions for Fayetteville and Beyond
To address homelessness effectively, Fayetteville and communities across North Carolina must adopt a multi-faceted approach:
Invest in Affordable Housing: Expanding both temporary and permanent housing options is critical. Federal and state funding should prioritize building affordable units and converting unused spaces into shelters (NC Housing Coalition, 2024).
Strengthen Support Systems: Programs like Fayetteville’s Impact Reduction Program need sustained funding to provide comprehensive services, including mental health care, job training, and housing navigation (Fayetteville Observer, 2024).
Engage with Affected Communities: Listening to and involving unhoused individuals in the planning process ensures that solutions are tailored to their needs and dignity is upheld (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2023).
Address Systemic Inequities: Efforts must focus on dismantling barriers that disproportionately impact marginalized groups, including people of color and women (Urban Institute, 2023).
Leverage Public Awareness: Moments of heightened empathy, such as those following disasters, can be catalysts for long-term change. Advocacy and education are essential to maintaining momentum and building public support for solutions (Carolina Public Press, 2024).
A Call to Action
As Fayetteville embarks on transformative projects like the Cape Fear River Park, it has an opportunity to set an example for compassionate and effective responses to homelessness. By investing in affordable housing, strengthening support systems, and addressing systemic inequities, we can work toward a future where everyone has access to stable housing and a sense of belonging.
Homelessness is not just a local issue; it is a national crisis that demands collective action. Let’s ensure that as we build parks and communities, we also build pathways to stability and hope for all.
Sources:
MSN News. (2024, December 16). As plans for a Cape Fear River park take shape, what will happen to unhoused in the area? Retrieved from https://www.msn.com/en-us/urban-infrastructure/housing-and-urban-development/as-plans-for-a-cape-fear-river-park-take-shape-what-will-happen-to-unhoused-in-the-area/ar-AA1vnGS3?ocid=BingNewsSerp
WUNC. (2024, December 16). Hurricane Helene and the surge in homelessness in Western North Carolina. Retrieved from https://www.wunc.org/health/2024-12-16/helene-homelessness-western-north-carolina
National Alliance to End Homelessness. (2024). State of Homelessness: 2024 Edition. Retrieved from https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-homelessness/
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