Wake County looking into expanding homeless shelters, adding beds

Wake County is looking to expand homeless shelters.

On Monday night, county commissioners reviewed the results of study that reveals the county needs to add hundreds of beds. It's an issue that's come up as Raleigh tries to improve safety downtown.

The county hired the Corporation for Supportive Housing to put together this new unsheltered facility study.

It reveals a shortage of 350 beds.

In November, the county opened a new drop-in shelter that's open seven nights a week through the end of March. It's averaging 108 people a night in the temporary space in Raleigh.

Now, the county is looking to set up a permanent drop-in shelter. That's one of the recommendations from the study.

It also recommends establishing a non-congregate shelter where families can stay together in private rooms.

Right now, it typically takes 29 days for homeless families with young children to get into emergency shelter in the county.

"When we work ourselves out of this crisis, when we work ourselves out of having a homeless crisis and end homelessness in Wake County, a non-congregate shelter investment should look like something that can later be turned into permanent housing," said Vanessa Kopp with Wake County Housing.

The study also recommends creating a space for day services. That would give people a place to go during the day and get connected to resources in the community that can help them get out of homelessness.

That's been brought up as a way to help with some of the recent public safety concerns in downtown Raleigh.

Monday's meeting is just the beginning. The county's housing department plans to hold focus groups over the next few months.

They'll come back to commissioners in the spring with more detailed recommendations and estimated costs for any new shelters.