Raleigh launches $5 million program to house homeless

Raleigh is putting $5 million into a new effort to find housing for people living outside in camps.

That's money the city says will save us in the long run. It's modeled after a program in Houston, Texas.

City leaders there say this program reduced homelessness by 64% and saved taxpayers $76,000 per person, per year.

The city said there are 48 homeless camps on city park land and another 21 on land like the beltline at Capitol Boulevard.

This money will focus on getting people out of camps and into housing.

The city estimated taxpayers will save $15,000 to 25,000 for every person who's off the street.

Whether it's a life's belongings packed up on a park bench or a tent that's become home in the woods along a highway, this is reality for an increasing number of our neighbors in Raleigh.

Raleigh Housing and Neighborhoods Director Emila Sutton is leading the city's new Unsheltered Homelessness Response Pilot program.

"It’s been about a 200% increase over the last three years which is pretty stunning," Sutton said.

$3 million will help move people out of camps and provide them with rent payments.

$2 million more will go to repair and expand affordable housing for people leaving the camps.

"I think what we’re going to do is show the cost-benefit of that and the benefit to the people living in the camps and getting stable housing," Sutton said. "There’s a real high cost to homelessness."

The city said clearing camps can cost $1,600 to $6,200 per person. The city said it costs taxpayers $35,000 per year to provide services to someone who's chronically homeless.

It's $3,000 cheaper to get them into a home. The cost to taxpayers is even lower $18,000 to $20,000 per year - to provide rental assistance.

Stephen Gruver is chair of the Wake Continuum of Care, which coordinates resources to address homelessness.

He says this pilot program is a new starting point toward a solution.

"The goal is, ultimately, to get people housed," Gruver said. "We’re able to see a more vibrant community, a community that responds to need in our community, and also just a cleaner and safer environment for residents within the city of Raleigh."

This pilot program will help about 40 people get out of camps and into housing. The city planned to track how this goes over the next year.

If it's successful, the goal would be to expand this response to homelessness.