by Jackie Jenks

In the Spring issue of Connections, we shared a core conviction that guides our daily work:

Homelessness is solvable—if we collectively choose to solve it.

At IFC, we refuse to accept homelessness as an unavoidable reality. It is not an inherent condition of modern life, rather the direct product of decades of deliberate policy choices across all levels of government. This trajectory began with  systemic  federal divestment from affordable housing initiatives in the early 1980s. Over time, these structural shifts have created an unforgiving economic reality.

According to the North Carolina Housing Coalition, a renter in Orange County must earn $32.90 per hour to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment at the current Fair Market Rent of $1,711 per month. Meanwhile, the state’s minimum wage remains stuck at $7.25 per hour. This massive disparity leaves 58% of our local renters struggling to pay their rent and highly vulnerable. A single crisis—a sudden job loss, a high medical bill, or a sharp rent hike—can instantly push a neighbor into housing instability.

The good news is that we do not have to wonder how to fix this crisis. As demonstrated in communities like Houston, Denver, and New York City, homelessness is drastically reduced when communities actively invest in real solutions.

• Deep affordability: Building and subsidizing housing so it remains permanently affordable for all income levels, protecting people on fixed incomes and those working low-wage jobs.
• Wraparound services: Pairing stable housing with ongoing, individualized support for people who need medical care, mental health counseling, or other services to thrive.
• Housing stability supports: Offering immediate rental assistance and robust eviction diversion programs to keep neighbors safely housed when an unexpected crisis strikes.

These solutions are integral to IFC’s mission. Every day, our programs transform these principles into life-changing actions.

At IFC Commons in Carrboro, neighbors can drop in to connect with critical resources that meet their basic needs:

• Information for available housing, and opportunities to advocate for more affordable options that match people’s incomes.
• Access to nutritious food, a drop-in medical clinic, hot showers, emergency clothing, and blankets.
• Direct links to our shelters and emergency housing support.

Community House and HomeStart are Orange County’s only emergency shelters tailored for unhoused individuals and families. These spaces do far more than offer a safe bed for the night. They provide holistic support, including housing assistance and referrals for employment services, training programs, and medical and mental health care.

Our Permanent Supportive Housing program delivers long-term stability through housing subsidies and wraparound support. Over the past 10 years, this program’s reach has more than doubled and now serves 32 families and single individuals who have faced the steepest barriers to housing—our neighbors who otherwise would likely still be living on the streets.

But this program is now under threat. The federal administration is actively shifting funding away from long-term permanent housing models, and local priorities remain highly uncertain following recent unsettling funding recommendations at the county level. This constantly changing funding landscape creates a period of intense vulnerability for our neighbors who rely on this program to avoid becoming homeless again. The stakes are too high to wait. We cannot afford to stay silent.

As IFC supporters, you have always shown up with purpose and conviction. You bring canned goods, serve community meals, collect warm coats, write notes of encouragement, and provide financial support that keeps our doors open.

And we must also take action at the policy level. Consider getting involved in the Orange County Continuum of Care membership committee, the group that makes homeless policy and funding decisions at a local level. You can contact community leaders and ask them to prioritize housing our unhoused neighbors:

• Protect 100% of Orange County’s current Permanent Supportive Housing subsidies and support systems before our neighbors lose their safety net.
• Create more affordable housing units, sustained local subsidies, and the wraparound support services our community needs to remain stable.

Let’s work to solve homelessness and save lives together.

This piece was first published in IFC’s Fall 2026 Newsletter.