Guilford County and its municipalities aim to support homeless people through the winter

Guilford County, High Point and Greensboro officials are looking to pool funds to support unhoused residents through the winter.

The governing bodies are considering each giving $100,000 to the Guilford County Continuum of Care to support hotel stays or emergency housing. The organization is the area's planning body for tackling homelessness.

The idea was brought forth in a Guilford County Homelessness Taskforce special meeting on Monday.

According to the county, 250 beds for permanent supportive housing are needed. Guilford County Board of Commissioners Chair Skip Alston says the move looks to assist people through the winter due to the lack of supply.

"We need to be able to get folks that are going to be cold, right now, tonight, off the streets," he says.

Greensboro Housing and Neighborhood Development Director Michelle Kennedy says moving forward collaboration is key.

"We're going to be a lot more effective and a lot more efficient if it's running through one source instead of everybody in three different municipalities trying to coordinate and organize things," she says.

The local leaders are expected to meet again on Dec. 11.