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Student tells board juvenile homelessness affects hundreds in Cumberland County
Summary
Grace Creek Middle School student April Lindtcomb told the board that more than 25,000 children in North Carolina experience homelessness and that Cumberland County Schools sees about 800–900 students annually without stable housing, urging immediate local action and noting the board proclaimed November Homeless Youth Awareness Month.
At the Cumberland County Board of Education meeting, Grace Creek Middle School student April Lindtcomb asked the board to address juvenile homelessness and cited state and local figures. "Did you know that in North Carolina, there are over 25,000 homeless children?" she asked. "In Cumberland County Schools, each year, 800 to 900 students... do not even know about our homeless."
April emphasized that rising housing costs and rent affordability push families into unsheltered situations and underscored the impact on students’ stability and learning. She thanked the board for issuing a proclamation on Sept. 30, 2025, naming November as Homeless Youth Awareness Month and urged the board and community to take immediate steps to support affected students.
Board members responded with recognition and appreciation for her remarks; there was no formal vote or motion tied to the student’s request during this meeting. The meeting’s recognitions included staff and community partners already working on housing-stability supports, and the board highlighted a school social-work coordinator’s appointment to a state interagency council to coordinate homelessness programs.
