All Cabarrus County families will have safe, stable, affordable, quality housing.

According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, healthy homes promote good physical and mental health. Good health depends on having homes that are safe and free from physical hazards. In contrast, poor quality and inadequate housing contributes to health problems such as chronic diseases and injuries, and can have harmful effects on childhood development. Poor indoor air quality, lead paint, and other hazards often coexist in homes, placing children and families at great risk for multiple health problems. 

A shortage of affordable housing limits a family or individuals choice about where they live, causing lower-income families to be left with limited options, that primarly include substandard housing in unsafe, overcrowded neighborhoods with higher rates of poverty and fewer resources for health promotion (e.g., parks, bike paths, recreation centers and activities). The lack of affordable housing affects a families’ ability to meet other expense needs, placing many under tremendous financial strain. High housing-related costs place an economic burden on low-income families, forcing them to make decisions between paying for food, heating and/or other basic needs. 

The Cabarrus County Homelessness Task Force and the Cabarrus Housing Collaborative jointly identified eight populations of homeless individuals living in Cabarrus County. The populations listed below were identified because of their unique needs and specific types of housing supports necessary.

• Families with Children (one or two parent)
• Single Adults with Disabilites (male and female)
• Young Adults Aging out of Foster Care (predominantly female)
• Youth Runaways
• Senior Adults (single and married)
• Previously Incarcerated
• Adults Needing Substance Use or Mental Health in-patient treatment and housing supports
• Chronically Homeless

This results supports efforts to address with the following Healthy NC 2030 indicators:

• Health Indicator 9: Severe Housing Problems