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Service providers and students urge Greensboro to expand shelter capacity amid housing crisis
Summary
A social-work intern and other speakers urged the council to prioritize funding for domestic-violence shelter expansion, emergency family shelter capacity and affordable housing to address families sleeping in cars and tents who cannot access existing beds.
Speakers at the council meeting called on Greensboro leaders to act quickly to expand shelter capacity and affordable housing.
Jennifer Rogers, a social-work student interning with CSWEI at the IRC, told council that in Guilford County families are sleeping in cars and tents while parents work. She described a recent case in which a team made 60 calls and found one bed available an hour-and-a-half away. "When safety depends on distance and luck, we are failing," Rogers said, urging the council to prioritize funding for domestic-violence shelter expansion, additional family emergency shelter capacity and accelerated affordable-housing development.
Other public commenters recounted neighborhood encampment concerns and called for enforcement responses and supportive services. Council members and staff said they heard the pleas and arranged follow-up with the assistant city manager and police/community resources to coordinate responses and outreach.
The meeting did not include an immediate budget vote tied specifically to new shelter funding; speakers asked that the council and county officials prioritize sustained investments and clear timelines.
