CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Charlotte City Council met for two hours Wednesday to find solutions to end homelessness throughout the city.
There were more questions than answers at the meeting and city council members are still wondering how to fight such a huge problem. Officials did agree on one thing. Maybe it's time to stop building new affordable housing in the city.
"Today you heard from the council," Mayor Anthony Foxx said. "We want to look at using existing stock that's already out there - Apartment buildings that may not be fully leased and other things."
Some council members question is this a problem the city should tackle.
"We need to decide is this something we are going to commit a lot of resources to," Councilman Warren Cooksey said. "And pay the extra money and stop paying for other things or is it something we say we don't have the ability to make impact so it's not something we should look at."
The city did establish a 10 year plan to tackle homelessness. The city is five years into it. Some city leaders want to know is it time to tweak the plan and focus on an issue that contributes to homelessness - employment.
"Are we going to be addressing housing," Councilman John Autry said. "Or should we be addressing jobs. I think that still needs to be part of the discussion."
Mayor Foxx is using this subject as his DNC initiative. He invited some speakers to address the issue for a Wednesday night forum. Some believe having the convention in Charlotte could help make things better for those who have no place to live.
"I think the DNC is helping highlight the issue," Charlotte Housing Chair Joel Ford said. "Which is putting more resources and attention to it - which ultimately helps the people."
No word yet when council will resume talks about homelessness.
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