Study: Hurricane Helene caused spike in homelessness in North Carolina

North Carolina experienced a 33% increase in homelessness in 2024-25, the largest percentage rise in the U.S., driven largely by Hurricane Helene, which displaced nearly 4,000 people in western North Carolina. The 2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report attributes the surge to infrastructure loss and reduced affordable housing, with challenges persisting in rural and urban areas.