RALEIGH, N.C. — As we get into the cooler months, some shelters have been opening their doors to those experiencing homelessness.

What You Need To Know

  • For years, the White Flag program has operated during the colder months

  • The program helps those experiencing homelessness during inclement weather from Nov. 1 to March 31 when temperatures drop below 35 degrees

  • The White Flag shelter program opened two new buildings in downtown Raleigh

One of the programs that started up again in November is called White Flag. They implement safety measures during inclement weather for those who don’t have a roof over their heads. Staff and volunteers had been preparing two buildings for their program in downtown Raleigh: one at 401 W Cabarrus Street and 510 S Harrington Street.

Raleigh and Wake County are seeing an increasing number of homeless individuals seeking shelter and support. Pastor Vance Haywood of Saint John’s Metropolitan Community Church, who is helping lead the two White Flag shelters downtown, said while there’s been an increase in the resources available for those who are experiencing homelessness, there’s also more of a demand for those resources.

Pastor Haywood said this could be because of factors like the economy, rent prices going up, people getting evicted and not enough affordable housing options.

“All of (the) shelters in the county are at capacity, we don’t have room for people to be able to get into a shelter space,” Pastor Haywood said. “If you wanted shelter right now, it’s going to take you anywhere from four to eight weeks depending on the circumstances; and so we need some space for folks to simply exist and be and get connected to resources while they are here if they need to.”

With that said, Pastor Haywood is trying to make a difference.

“When I first came to Raleigh almost 20 years ago, you know that was my first real encounter with homelessness and folks experiencing homelessness, and so it became a real reality for me then,” Pastor Haywood said.

Haywood said it’s very rewarding to do being the work he’s doing and hearing the stories is something that keeps him going.

“I can’t tell you how many times I hear people tell me that they would not be alive today if they hadn’t come here and had a safe space to be, that they were at their wits end, and that this was the last straw for them,” Haywood said.

Someone else who is putting in the work to help the homeless population is Wesley Walker Jr. He used to experience homelessness himself, but now he dedicates his time at the shelter.

“It’s made me appreciate every step of the walk that I’ve made from my situation in homelessness,” Walker Jr. said.

Walker Jr. said he has learned a lot along the way and to be able to share those lessons with others is special, especially if it can help them get out their challenging situations.

“It’s like therapy for me. It refreshes in my mind everyday how far I have come, and that everything that’s given to us, it’s given to us for a reason, we are supposed to share it, and this to me share my situation where I came from, this is the best place to do it,” Walker Jr. said.

During the colder months, Walker Jr. said you need to find a place to stay warm, but for those experiencing homelessness, that option is not always available.

“I found myself sleeping in junk cars, abandoned buildings, drug houses, you know, no lights, no water, no facilities,” Walker Jr. said.

Spectrum News 1 is told that with the County and City’s increased financial support, the shelters will operate every night as a drop-in shelter and will allow for surge capacity on White Flag declared nights.

There are other drop-in shelters that will operate as White Flag Shelters as well. All operate from Nov. 1 - March 31 on nights that drop below 35 degrees.

Edenton Street United Methodist Church’s Bulla Building, on West Jones Street, and the Salvation Army, on Capital Boulevard, will operate as White Flag shelters.