Durham Rescue Mission struggles with increase in homeless population

A startling figure released by the federal government this week revealed that homelessness has increased by 18% nationwide over the past year.

A startling figure released by the federal government this week revealed that homelessness has increased by 18% nationwide over the past year.

In North Carolina, the increase is even higher at 19%, a trend that's impacting some of the region's longest-serving homeless shelters.

For Ernie Mills Jr., Vice President of Development at the Durham Rescue Mission, it came as no surprise.

"Not at all," Mills said.

He says that year after year, the homeless population continues to grow, with the demand evident in everything from packed Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners to more occupied beds at night.

"And we are seeing roughly, a 16% increase at the Durham Rescue Mission," Mills said.

The mission, one of many places across the country feeling the strain.

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development's latest Annual Homelessness Assessment, released this week, homelessness is up across the country, with more people, more families, and more chronically homeless on the street.

In North Carolina alone, the report found 11,626 people currently homeless.

"People are hurting, people are struggling," Mills said.

As to what's driving the increase, the report cites multiple contributing factors - including natural disasters, the end of pandemic era assistance programs, and inflation, among other things

"People are falling behind, not with respect to everything they buy, but in particular, with respect to the price of shelter," NC State Economist Michael Walden said.

Walden says that in North Carolina, housing prices have outpaced wages, even as cities like Raleigh have rapidly increased the number of apartments available.

"It's not that the problem has gone unrecognized, but that it takes time to catch up," Walden said.

Mills believes more non-profits like the Durham Rescue Mission are needed to tackle the rising homelessness, a trend he expects to continue into the next year.

"We're praying for less. But we're prepared for more," Mills said.