Homeless families forced to vacate shelter parking lot after setting up camp outside

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Families in crisis are facing a difficult situation in Charlotte.

The homeless problem is so bad, a small camp has formed outside the Salvation Army shelter for women and children off Statesville Avenue in north Charlotte.

The Salvation Army says the homeless families have to leave because the shelter is full and employees don’t have anywhere to park now.

They also say they can’t provide security outside and they need to protect the women and children who are already inside. @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/WBVKAGUWhF
— Mark Barber (@MBarberWSOC9) October 18, 2018

"As challenging as it is, we're making the tough decision to tell people they cannot sleep in the parking lot," said Salvation Army director Deronda Metz.

She said the shelter is full, so homeless families in cars packed to the roof with clothes have been camping outside.

"With this weather getting cold it really is a concern," said Metz.

It's a sensitive situation, so the Salvation Army hasn't addressed anything for six months.

However, on Thursday, Metz said it had reached a point where they had to acknowledge they have to protect the women and children staying in the building and they can't provide security for the families living in the parking lot.

"The challenge for us is, the situation has grown from one or two families to, the parking lot is so full our customers and employees don't have a place to go," Metz said.

Metz said it underscores the severity of Charlotte's affordable housing crisis.

Homeless numbers are up to 1,700, 13 percent higher than 2017's numbers.

This year, 18,000 people are stuck on housing wait lists.

In the Salvation Army's parking lot, a homeless woman named Alicia, told Channel 9, "There are about 20 adults plus children that are outside."

This is an ugly turn in Charlotte’s affordable housing crisis.

Desperate families who are waiting for housing are sleeping in cars like this one outside the Salvation Army to feel safer.

So many people are now camping out, the shelter is making everyone leave in 5 days. @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/KQlHbBotmt
— Mark Barber (@MBarberWSOC9) October 18, 2018

Alicia didn't want to be identified for safety reasons.

She worked as a nurse assistant before she became disabled. Now, she's living out of her car.

At night, she pulls a cot off her van and sleeps on the ground.

Eyewitness News reporter Mark Barber asked her, "If you can't stay here, where will you go?"

[Priced Out of Charlotte and county-by-county resource guide]

She said, "I have no idea. I have no idea. This is the last alternative." Alicia added, "I beg them to reconsider because the reason there are so many people outside, even though there is no more room for inside, is because it's still a place for women and children."

Salvation Army officials said they understand Alicia's desperate plea, but they still have a challenging decision to make.

Since the situation is so difficult, the Salvation Army said they will give the families five days to leave. They hope that's enough time to help them connect those families to help.

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