More individuals are sleeping outside today than at any other time since 2010, according to a Mecklenburg County report. WFAE examines why homelessness is still a major problem and why some individuals choose to sleep on the streets rather than entering shelters in the first of a two-part series.
Uptown construction workers were pounding hammers on a weekday morning near the First United Methodist Church on North Tryon Street. Brian Gatewood, wearing his orange T-shirt and matching sneakers that reflected the summer heat, sat on the steps.
The idea of sleeping outside can be intimidating to most people, but Gatewood has a different perspective.
“No,” Gatewood responded, “you’ll just be extremely thirsty.” “It’d be hot (and) you start sweating.”
According to Gatewood, some people would rather be outside than enter a shelter for a variety of reasons, such as safety concerns and fears of exploitation.
You’re surrounded by too many people who are not your age in the shelter; some of them may even be your age. They beg and say they’re your friends until the money runs out; after that, no one is there, Gatewood said.
He adds that crime is an issue. Numerous claims of assault, theft, harassment, and even arson at the Roof Above shelter have been made in recent years, according to police reports. According to Gatewood, there are a few reasons why some people would rather sleep outside than in shelters.
People of the same sex and race may assault you, and you may not enjoy it. And your money is stolen,” Gatewood remarked.
Roof Above informed WFAE that in order to allay safety worries, staff members patrol the hallways once an hour and check anyone entering and leaving the shelters for possible narcotics or weapons.
A growing number of people on the streets
Nearly $150 million has been spent by Mecklenburg County since 2022 to combat homelessness and provide affordable homes. This covers money for rental aid, legal help to prevent evictions, shelter programs, and more. The city contributes a portion of the money, and the federal government provided $65 million through the American Rescue Plan Act. The number of individuals sleeping outside keeps increasing in spite of those funds.
More than 200 volunteers took part in the county’s point-in-time survey in January to determine the number of homeless people. Together with county employees, volunteers found 444 individuals sleeping outside in vehicles, tents, and bus stations.
That is the biggest number in 15 years and 60 higher than the previous year.
The count also brought attention to the harshness of street living. Abdul Wright, 52, was discovered dead across from the church where Gatewood is seated. The men’s refuge at Roof Above is only a 13-minute walk away.
Roof Above’s chief executive officer is Liz Clasen-Kelly. She thought back on that January evening in an interview with WFAE in June.
According to Clasen-Kelly, “I did anticipate our unsheltered numbers would be lower because we had 110 additional people on overflow beds that evening.” Therefore, it is quite alarming to witness the notable rise in unsheltered homelessness in spite of the extremely cold temperatures and the lack of shelter turnaways.
When a team of volunteers discovered Wright’s body during the WFAE count, Clasen-Kelly was present. When other individuals in the area noticed Wright, they offered them resources like food and sleeping bags and phoned the police and ambulance.
Wright was found laying on the ground, shocking those who had been handed sleeping bags. After receiving resources, one individual remarked, “Oh my God, that’s why I can’t go to sleep.” Volunteers consoled that individual.
When officials came, they spoke with the people who were given sleeping bags and inquired if anyone had witnessed anything. In response, someone said, “I spoke with him just a few hours ago. Another individual who received resources began to cry, and when officials inquired as to whether they knew Wright, they exclaimed, “Yes, it’s Abdul.”
According to a state medical examiner’s assessment, Wright passed away from a lung illness called pneumonia. Wright, who identified as Black, African American, or African, was among the roughly 60% of individuals who were discovered sleeping outside during the point-in-time census.
Social worker Allison Winston had a few encounters with Wright. Winston previously worked with the Cares Team, a program that is currently run by the county and was part of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. It began as a means of addressing the majority of unsheltered homeless persons. Winston claims that she frequently saw Wright outside of uptown eateries and structures.
He would say that he needed assistance. He’s not doing well. He is willing to participate and wants to resume taking his medications. Sure, I’ll complete the evaluation. Winston remarked, “I’ll do whatever it takes to sort of plug back in.” “And at other times, I believe, he would say that to get us to leave, but he wasn’t prepared.
According to a Charlotte Observer story, Wright struggled with mental illness. Wright was a well-known funny joker, a wrestler, and a soccer player in Scotland, according to the article.
After Wright was discovered dead on the streets, Winston discovered a few facts about him.
That wasn’t always his reality, which makes me sadder because it suggests that he could have been able to return to the happier and healthier version of Mr. Wright with a little more assistance, Winston said.
Winston has worked with the homeless for roughly ten years, notably at Roof Above under the name Urban Ministry. In addition to substance abuse and mental illness, she claims that some people steer clear of shelters due to misconceptions.
It has a reputation for being unsafe, congested, filthy, and this or that. However, when you inquire, “Well, have you been there in person?” Have you given it a try? “Well, no,” Winston remarked, “they say.” Therefore, I believe that the shelter has a somewhat unjustified unfavorable reputation, but I also believe that many people find that kind of environment unsuitable.
Winston is currently employed by Community Solutions, an organization that assists cities in their efforts to remove individuals such as Abdul Wright from the streets, as a homeless response specialist.
This is the first installment in WFAE’s series, which examines the reasons why more people are choosing to live outside rather than seek refuge in shelters. We will continue to examine the county’s response, the reasons behind it, and the ways in which shelter programs handle this complicated problem on Monday.
