The City of Monroe has released the results of its first comprehensive homelessness census, offering the clearest picture to date of the number of individuals experiencing homelessness within the community and the challenges they face. 

“This effort gave us a community-wide picture of homelessness in Monroe,” City Manager Mark Watson said. “Our staff worked across departments to collect this information with care and consistency, and because of that, we now have reliable data to help guide future decisions. It’s a meaningful step toward understanding the scope of the issue and determining how the City and our partners can respond in a more coordinated and effective way.”

Census results at a glance

The three-day census, conducted October 13 to 15, documented 166 direct encounters with individuals experiencing homelessness. When combined with estimated data from the Community Shelter and confirmation of homeless individuals in the Union County jail, the City counted a total of 233 individuals experiencing homelessness during the census period.

Key findings include:

Demographics

• 120 males and 46 females

• 72 Black individuals (43 percent)

• 84 White individuals (51 percent)

• 10 Hispanic or Native American individuals (6 percent)

• Average age encountered: 42 years old

Origin

• 56 percent from the Monroe region or surrounding communities including Marshville, Indian Trail, Wadesboro, Charlotte, Pageland, and Lancaster

• 19 percent from the southern United States

• 17 percent from the northeast United States

• 8 percent from western states

Living arrangements 

Of the individuals who disclosed where they were staying:

• 46% were living in tents

• 20% were in shelters

• 15% were in abandoned structures

• 12% were staying in parks or on the streets

• Less than 1% were living in vehicles or staying in motels

Duration of homelessness

• About two-thirds reported being homeless for less than three years

• Nearly one-quarter had been homeless for more than five years, indicating a chronically homeless subset

• Men were more likely to report long-term homelessness

• Women were more concentrated in the under-three-year category

Shelter and jail population

• An estimated 34 of the 166 encounters were shelter residents

• An additional 38 shelter residents were not encountered in the field

• 29 individuals experiencing homelessness were in jail during the census period

How the census came together

The census was developed following the creation of a Mayoral Committee tasked with examining the status and impact of homelessness in Monroe. At a June 20 roundtable event, community partners emphasized that accurate data was essential to evaluate service needs, address concerns about panhandling and encampments, and better understand the role of addiction and mental health. City Manager Mark Watson requested a full census to establish a reliable baseline.

City Manager Mark Watson convened a multi-department planning group, including Police, Fire, IT-GIS, Planning and the City Manager’s Office. IT-GIS developed a digital encounter tool allowing field teams to collect voluntary, self-reported information including name, approximate age, race, gender, and current living situation. Individuals could also consent to a photo for verification. 

A trial run on August 22 tested the tool, evaluated team size needed, and geographic coverage zones. The full census mobilized five teams composed of police officers, fire personnel, IT staff, and City administrators. 

During the census, teams canvassed encampments, wooded areas, abandoned buildings, parks, streets, and other known gathering areas. Encounters occurred with individuals on foot, bicycles, and in cars or trucks. The census continued into a community homelessness event on October 15 at Don Griffin Park, where staff and partner agencies also engaged individuals and provided services.

Next steps

The City will use the census results to guide the next phase of the Mayoral Committee’s work, including evaluating service gaps, identifying opportunities to strengthen coordination among agencies, and shaping recommendations for City Council on policies related to homelessness, addiction, encampments, and downtown quality-of-life concerns.