County looking to pour millions into programs that help tackle affordable housing, homelessness

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — Mecklenburg County commissioners are considering pouring $8.4 million into three programs that can help those most at-risk.

As the Charlotte real estate market heats up, commissioners met Tuesday afternoon to zero in on options for the homeless, those at risk at being homeless and victims of domestic violence.

[SPECIAL SECTION: Affordable Housing Crisis]

Channel 9 learned $6.3 million of the money would go to MeckHome, a program that offers short-term rental subsidies and $2.1 would go to Link, a transitional housing program for the homeless, disabled and elderly.

[RELATED: What new report reveals about Mecklenburg County's current affordable-housing picture]

The county said there is a shortage of 27,000 units that are affordable and available to the county's extremely low-income population.

Commissioner Trevor Fuller said the county needs a better way to track whether the action they take is making a difference.

“How do we know if we are achieving anything?” Fuller said Tuesday. “What are we trying to achieve? Is it simply just helping more people? That's a pretty low bar. Is there something else we are trying to achieve? We need some metrics for where we are going.”

Commissioners unanimously voted to allow the county manager to proceed.

The third proposal is a program that is meant to offer rent subsidies for people and families who are in domestic violence situations. It's unclear how much money would go to that program.

As of June 30, there are 2,100 people who are homeless in our community.

Cox Media Group