Street counts in Mecklenburg County spotted 444 people without shelter in 2025. This marks a jump of 60 from last year’s tally. Black, African American, and African residents make up nearly 60% of those who sleep outdoors.
One winter night’s count showed white individuals at 31%, with Hispanic residents at 3%. Workers found people in cars, near bus stops, and tucked away in woods across the area.
“Years and years of systematic racism that has impacted the outcomes of that particular racial group,” said Mary Ann Priester, the county’s housing and homelessness data coordinator, according to WFAE. “So, lack of access to wealth, policies that serve to oppress.”…