Through the Point In Time census conducted in January 2010, we estimate there are 7000 homeless men, women, and children in Mecklenburg County. In February 2010, the Urban Ministry Center staff – in partnership with a dozen local agencies and over 110 community volunteers - conducted a “Vulnerability Index,” to identify and count the chronically homeless. That figure is 807, or about 10 percent. These are the folks who have been homeless for more than a year, or at least four times in the past three years and have a disability. 388 of these individuals had at least one vulnerability factor which places them at higher risk for dying.

Over the years we have come to know this population well. They cycle in and out of jail cells, hospital rooms, emergency rooms and shelters. Despite the fact that they consume 50 percent of community resources, their outcomes are rarely good.

And we have come to know that while their needs are complex, there is a solution. It is a philosophy called Housing First, which recognizes that everyone has a fundamental right to housing, no matter what their mental health condition or physical disability or addiction may be.  The idea is get people into housing first, and then work on the issues that need attention in order to help the person stay housed. It makes sense – who among us could tackle sobriety while sleeping under a bridge?  It makes economic sense too – research has proven that the cost of permanent housing and services is far less than the current cycle of jails, ERs, and shelter beds.