According to a recent USA Today article, the number of homeless families in shelters increased 7% from 2008 to 2009.  According to a US government report, "The recession continued to take its toll as more families with children became homeless for the second straight year."  Read full article at USA Today.

This week, the Charlotte Housing Authority surveyed Charlotte area homeless men and women to determine who is chronically homeless in Charlotte. The Charlotte Housing Authority wants to use this information to learn what it might take to get these men and women off the streets permanently. 

It is believed that there are approximately 6500 homeless people in Charlotte.  Of those, advocates believe there are 500 who are chronically homeless. 

Julie Rose of WFAE, Charlotte's NPR station, spoke this week to a man who has been homeless in Charlotte for over 10 years. 

To read or listen to the story from WFAE, click here.

Assessing the scope of
homelessness in Charlotte.
Picture from WFAE.org.