The Homeless Committee was created in response to citizen concerns regarding homelessness and vagrancy within the city. The committee is led by city manager, Ritchie Haynes and aims to meet on the third Wednesday of each month. It consists of key stakeholders from our community including public safety officials, nonprofit leaders, local government representatives, and community members. Some of these stakeholders include the Chief of Police, Fire Chief, leaders from the United Way, Hesed House, and Christian Ministries, as well as local small business owners and council members. 

The committee is organized into three subgroups, each focused on specific areas: 

1. Vagrancy/Downtown: Composed primarily of public safety members, this group addresses safety and behavioral concerns related to homelessness in downtown Lincolnton. 

2. Addiction and Mental Health: This subgroup is working on developing a crisis response service to provide immediate support to individuals facing mental health or substance abuse crises, aiming to reduce homelessness linked to these challenges. 

3. Affordable Housing: This group focuses on expanding access to affordable housing, partnering with local nonprofits, government agencies, and community leaders. 

The mission of the City's Homeless Committee is to create a collaborative approach to addressing homelessness in Lincolnton, with an emphasis on public safety, support services, and long-term solutions. 

We have no report for 2023 with this committee. 

As of the last meeting, the group discussed plans to clear areas of illegal tent encampments once the leaves fall from the trees. They aim to partner with various organizations to provide housing for those individuals affected by these encampments. Additionally, subcommittee groups will be rolling out soon to support these initiatives.

Furthermore, we recently conducted a Point-in-Time (PIT) count in the community. A PIT count is a nationwide effort required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to gather data on homelessness in a specific area. This count helps assess the number of individuals experiencing homelessness, both sheltered and unsheltered, on a single night. The data collected is crucial for securing funding, understanding local needs, and developing targeted solutions to address homelessness effectively.