WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — More than 100 people, including homeowners, business owners, and faith-based community groups, came together Thursday night to discuss Wilmington’s housing crisis.
The Faith and Housing Crisis Forum featured several real stories from local homeowners about their experiences trying to find a place to live or feel safe.
Homeowner Joe Francis said it’s tough seeing so many homeless people as he drives around town.
“I mean it’s significant and it’s a shame that, you know, there is such affluence in other parts of the city,” Francis said. “Yet, we have folks that are unhoused in the city as well.”
During the forum, a panel of experts answered questions about how churches and ministries could get involved in providing more housing for people.
One Christian Network of Wilmington organized the event.
Founder Emma Baltezore said a forum like this has been needed, due to the impact of several major events in recent years.
“During Hurricane Florence, we all know that we lost a lot of housing, and we saw that firsthand,” Baltezore said. “So many people, from mold or from flooding. And so then, also from COVID, we know that prices went up, and we get calls every single week of people not being able to pay their rent, not being able to afford their housing.”
According to Baltezore, there are around 1,400 homeless people in New Hanover County, and more than 85% became homeless for the first time this year.
County Commissioner Rob Zapple attended the forum, as affordable housing has always been a key issue for him.
He said one idea given by an expert could work if implemented.
“Idea of trying to, you know, capture existing housing, fix it up and keep it without turning it into new construction like that,” Zapple said.
For a homeowner like Casey Bullock, he said the first step for many people is as simple as changing their viewpoint on these issues.
“We drive the same roads most often every day and so we see the same thing,” Bullock said. “And so my challenge would be to take a different route and to look around and notice something different in your city. To see through someone else’s eyes and someone else’s experience, to imagine what life is like from that angle, rather than just your own perspective.”
Representatives from the Good Shepherd Center, Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry (WARM) and Habitat for Humanity were also at the forum to provide details about what they do.