CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A national nonprofit is seeking solutions for veterans facing homelessness in Mecklenburg County.
Community Solutions is buying properties in large cities across the country to preserve affordable housing and ensure veterans have somewhere to live. The nonprofit closed on an apartment complex in east Charlotte in December, which is Mecklenburg County’s first-ever permanent housing dedicated to veterans.
The Park at Ferentino, off Independence Boulevard, will soon take in veterans who are struggling to find affordable housing.
"This will help us in being able to reduce the length of time people are experiencing homelessness because we have a landlord that already understands maybe some of the barriers," Karen Pelletier, Director of Housing Innovation and Stabilization Services for Mecklenburg County, told WCNC Charlotte.
Pelletier said more than 2,700 people are homeless in the county and 7% are veterans.
"With veterans particularly, there are a lot of barriers in place whether that be income, resources, need for treatment," Brittany Marshall, Health Care for Homeless Veterans Director for the Salisbury VA, said.
Community Solutions is aware of 50 veterans in the Mecklenburg County area who are facing voucher barriers. This means they have housing subsidies but can’t find somewhere affordable that will accept them.
Marshall thinks having housing dedicated to veterans that accepts vouchers, like The Park at Ferentino, will help remove that barrier for struggling service members.
"Having access to housing units in one place definitely helps us with being able to fill those properties more quickly," Marshall said.
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Half of the 216 units will be dedicated to veterans exiting homelessness. Community Solutions says current tenants will not be forced out and can renew their leases if they wish. The group will work with the county to phase in veterans as repairs are made and units become available.
Community Solutions says it chose Charlotte due to its successful work with local organizations to find housing for homeless veterans. Pelletier hopes they can continue to build on this partnership.
As of June 2023, there are 233 veterans experiencing housing instability in Mecklenburg County. Volunteers will head out into communities next week to get updated counts and data on homelessness in our area.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.