July 13, 2021

From her Government Center office, County Manager Dena Diorio today reported on a wide variety of recent initiatives and successes reshaping county services in Mecklenburg.

Diorio prepared comments about three issues identified by the Forum: how the county is serving homeless campers evicted from a tent encampment this spring; the annual county just approved; and an update on the status of the Covid pandemic in Mecklenburg. But the conversation ranged more widely, to cover schools and serving food deserts and the looming cloud of Covid-related evictions.

Mecklenburg shut down a “tent city” near uptown in February, citing a rodent infestation and safety issues. More than 200 people were moved to hotel rooms, first for 90 days and then to end in September. Since February, the county has been providing shelter, meals, job training, relocation,m mental and social services. Diorio cited data on the 125 adults remaining after several months, the number placed or looking for permanent housing, the number engaged in job-training programs, and so on. But she acknowledge that “we are struggling a little bit” with issues of prostitution and other violence in the surrounding neighborhoods, and damage that guests have done to the buildings. Diorio said the county was paying to repair damages.

The county is also reimbursing Anuvia for a full-time mental health work involved in the project because so many of the guests need such services. She said the hotels may be cleared of homeless guests in September. Will the Anuvia services follow the guests to new locations? Diorio said county officials were studying how to make that happen.

The budget discussion centered on new programs and investments, and Diorio acknowledged commissioners who successfully lobbied their fellow commissioners to approve the new programs. A $2 million increase for the current year, she said, would boost pre-K enrollment this fall to about 1,890 children. The pre-K age group is served by three programs, the others financed by CMS and the State of North Carolina. Diorio said that of the 14,000-15,000 children in the age group in the county, the county expects to need to serve about 6,500 to give every pre-kindergartner a place. A federal decision to work toward universal pre-K would ramp up services more quickly; as it is, the county’s program depends on proceeds from the local property tax and will fall short of universal opportunity.

Diorio reported generally positive data about Covid-19 cases in Mecklenburg, but noted that vaccination rates in two minority communities are lagging: African-Americans represent 34% of the population, but only 22% of those vaccinated. Similarly, Hispanics are 14% of the county’s population, but only 11% of those vaccinated. She said the greatest concern at the moment is the non-vaccinated rate among the 18-24 age group.

Responding to a question about delays in getting federal dollars to individuals facing Covid-related evictions, Diorio acknowledged the looming July 31 end of the eviction moratorium, and said legal work had proved cumbersome. “But we will get there.”

Questions prompted many more responses from Diorio. And while she held up a Mecklenburg map at one point, she talked from off-screen notes and not from a PowerPoint.

 

On July 19, Diorio sent in these items following up on discussion.

West Charlotte senior citizens programming

Park & Recreation offers a variety of programming for Senior Citizens on the westside of Charlotte. The Senior Lunch program in partnership with DSS is offered at Southview, Bette Rae Thomas and West Charlotte Recreation Centers. Those sites also offer free exercise programs in partnership with UNC Charlotte, as well as a variety of social and recreation programs. In addition, Tuckaseegee Recreation Center offers Senior Basketball two days per week. If you would like a complete list of programs feel free to contact the facilities or visit www.parkandrec.com

Here are summer senior programs:

BETTE RAE THOMAS

• Senior Nutrition – Let’s Do Lunch
• UNCC Graduate Assistant Classes daily: Monday-Friday (Chair Yoga, Challenge Your Balance, Zumba)
• Fan Distribution
• Senior Bingo
• Walking Program
• Gardening Program
• Pickleball
• Lawn Games for Seniors
• Navigate Microsoft Office

SOUTHVIEW

• Senior Nutrition – Let’s Do Lunch
• Crafty Crafters
• Senior Bingo
• Walking Program
• Fan Distribution
• UNCC Graduate Assistant Program – Just assigned a student last week

WEST CHARLOTTE RECREATION CENTER

• Senior Nutrition and Senior programming resumed 7/6/2021. Senior Nutrition is running 5 days a week.
• Senior Nutrition has been averaging about 18 participants per day.
• Senior Group fitness classes are offer Tuesdays and Thursdays before Sr Lunch.
• Graduate assistants from UNCC is also working with Seniors on individual Wellness/Fitness programs.
• More Seniors have been in touch with DSS coordinator for Sr. Nutrition and indicated they will be returning soon (some are out of town or on vacation). Also seeing new participants from recently closed Senior Nutrition sites of Paul Creek and Pleasant Grove. Some Seniors are waiting on MTS to put them on their pick-up schedule to come to WCRC.
• African Drumming for Seniors is every Wednesday.

TUCKASEEGEE

• Senior Basketball – Monday and Wednesdays 2-4 p.m.

 

Park and Recreation Mission Statement: “Enhancing community wellness through recreation, open space, and natural resources.”

Park and Recreation Vision Statement: “People who recreate in Mecklenburg County will have a system of parks, greenways, and open space located throughout the County that will provide more parkland per capita than the national average, will connect neighborhoods, satisfies public recreation needs, and will protect environmentally sensitive areas.”

To request a modification based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact staff at 980-314-1192 or email [email protected]

 

Homeless numbers

As of May 31, 2021, there are 3,390 individuals experiencing homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. This includes 394 families, 2,146 single individuals and 131 unaccompanied youth (ages 18 – 24). Of the total, there are also 243 veterans and 541 individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.

This data and more, including breakdowns by race and ethnicity and a weekly briefing on the latest in housing and homelessness, is available via Mecklenburg County’s Housing & Homelessness Dashboard. To learn more and sign up for regular updates, please click this link.