SALISBURY, N.C. — Ciara Hall and three of her five kids are experiencing homelessness. “Stressed, angry, I don’t know. It’s mixed. I’m just mixed,” Hall said. 

What You Need To Know

  • Many people across North Carolina are struggling with housing  

  • More than 3,200 people are experiencing homelessness in Mecklenburg County as of October

  • One mother is hoping for a home for her family for the holidays

“It’s never been this bad. It’s like when I take a step forward, I get knocked back,” Hall said. 

She says she was kicked out of her apartment in Cabarrus County, which was $1,500 a month for two bedrooms, so she moved to a hotel.  

“My son had pneumonia, and I couldn’t make it to work, so I ended up losing my job and trying to still make money to pay for the room and make sure me and my kids eat,” Hall said. 

Hall has a high school freshman preparing for final exams, an 11-year-old and an 8-year-old that she’s taking care of. 

She started staying with a friend after living at the hotel, but now she doesn’t know what’s next. 

De’Nasia Walker, the executive director of Unity Village – a nonprofit that finds housing and offers support to displaced youth – says finding affordable housing for the people she works with has been tough.   

“As a result of individuals not being able to afford housing in Mecklenburg County, we’ve advised in the past to move to surrounding areas. Unfortunately, the surrounding areas are being impacted tremendously,” Walker said. 

More than 3,200 people are experiencing homelessness in Mecklenburg County as of October, according to the county.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness says in 2023 more than 9,000 people across North Carolina were homeless on any given night. During the holiday season, that challenge can be greater because of the colder weather.  

“Imagine preparing for the holidays and preparing gifts when their only expectation is for these children to have a warm bed to wake up in and to be able to smile and see one another,” Walker said. 

Donna Reed, the founder of Home 4 Me – a nonprofit that works with teens aging out of foster care – is urging community members to give back this holiday season. 

“You can do something to advocate for our young people and their families to make sure that they have everything that they need,” Reed said. 

As a young person, Reed aged out of the foster care system and now she helps others. 

“Yes, this is a season of joy. Joy should be every day and it can be, if someone has a place that they can call home,” Reed said. 

Hall says she won’t be able to get her kids anything for Christmas, but she wants to give them the essentials.   

“A home for me and my kids and the transportation, really, and then I can get a job. I just need to be on my feet, and I could manage the rest,” Hall said.