N.C. Coalition to End Homelessness

North Carolina advocacy groups oppose House Bill 437, which bans homeless encampments outside official city sites and designates service facilities as drug-free zones. The bill, revived in the Senate, could force local governments to evict homeless individuals without providing funding for approved campsites, prompting criticism from coalitions claiming it exacerbates financial and legal challenges for communities.

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.