1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

Homelessness is not a crime! Poverty is not a crime! I have worked with people experiencing housing instability and homelessness for over 15 years - the causes not substance abuse or mental illness. The real cause is low wages, the high cost of housing, the lack of affordable housing, and the high c ost of healthcare. The highest growing population of individuals experiencing homelessness today are children! Housing first practices are evidence-based practices. They have been researched and tested and proven to work. The decrease in veteran homelessness shows this. Please work to stop the inhumane treatment of these, our most vulnerable neighbors in North Carolina.