{"id":3882,"date":"2026-06-23T14:06:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T14:06:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=3882"},"modified":"2026-06-23T14:06:31","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T14:06:31","slug":"north-carolina-homeless-encampment-bill-advances-with-tougher-drug-penalties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=3882","title":{"rendered":"North Carolina homeless encampment bill advances with tougher drug penalties"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

RALEIGH, N.C. (WGHP) \u2014 What policies can help reduce homelessness in our state? Lawmakers have long been debating that.<\/p>\n

Read more City Council names Attorney Robert Harrington as Charlotte interim mayor<\/a><\/p>\n

FOX 8 WGHP previously reported on House Bill 781<\/strong>, which would allow local leaders to designate areas where the homeless population can live.<\/p>\n

A similar bill, House Bill 437, has gone through changes as it moved through the Senate. It includes additional language that would increase penalties for drug offenses committed in these designated areas, aiming to create a \u201cdrug-free homeless service zone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Homeless camps have appeared all across the Triad throughout the years, from Greensboro to Thomasville, Pfafftown and Winston-Salem. This proposed bill would allow local governments to designate zones where people experiencing homelessness can set up camp. Camping or sleeping in public places\u00a0outside of these zones would be banned.<\/p>\n

The bill would also target drug activities in those zones.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo weeks ago in the Senate Judiciary, we amended the bill. If you sell drugs in a homeless shelter or an encampment, it would increase the penalties,\u201d said State Rep. Brian Biggs (R-Randolph), one of the sponsors for the bill.<\/p>\n

There would be no additional state funding for this, but the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development could provide federal funding to homeless zones that are eligible. Biggs says these areas could provide services like security, sanitation, restrooms, running water, mental health resources and substance abuse treatment. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think it gives people dignity and gets them back on the right track,\u201d Biggs said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201c$2,500 to $25 million in grants. That\u2019s the range,\u201d Biggs said.<\/p>\n

Not everyone agrees with this proposed approach. Critics argue that these zones could push people out of sight without addressing the root cause of homelessness.<\/p>\n

Read more North Carolina tourism rates expected to drop as visitor numbers decline<\/a><\/p>\n

Bennita Curtain, the executive director of the Interactive Resource Center, says that criminalizing drug offenses could push them further away.<\/p>\n

\u201cAddiction is a real disease, then we have to treat it like the disease it is. We don\u2019t punish people for having cancer, so are we going to punish people for having a drug addiction? We need to treat it, and treatment is not one size fits all,\u201d Curtain said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

State Rep. Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford) said in a statement to FOX8: <\/p>\n

\n

\u201cHouse Bill 437 is not a solution to North Carolina\u2019s homelessness crisis. Rather than work to actually help people in crisis, this bill criminalizes homelessness and makes it harder for those in need to seek out and find support services. Providers of support and services for our homeless population would also be held responsible for substance use near their service areas, criminalizing service providers for assisting unhoused groups. This will only serve to lessen the amount of service and support these essential organizations can offer.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe bill is also asking local governments to establish \u2018encampments\u2019 and provide law enforcement and administrative support, while offering no additional funding to pay for it. The suggestion that there will be federal funds provided for this is disingenuous at best. The federal funds are awarded after a highly competitive application process, and not guaranteed for North Carolina. The application for these funds will be due within the next few weeks, and it seems unlikely that we would be able to get that done in time for cycle.<\/p>\n

Lastly, this legislation is being pushed around the country by the Cicero Institute, which was founded by venture capitalist and tech billionaire Joe Lonsdale, who does not have the expertise to address these issues. North Carolina lawmakers should listen to the experts, and work to find real solutions to the root problems that have created this crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The bill is now sitting in the Senate. The House would have to approve the final version before it reaches the Governor\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n

Read more NC inmates charged with attempted murder in alleged attack of detention officer<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

RALEIGH, N.C. (WGHP) \u2014 What policies can help reduce homelessness in our state? Lawmakers have long been debating that. FOX 8 WGHP previously reported on House Bill 781, which would allow local leaders to designate areas where the homeless population can live. A similar bill, House Bill 437, has gone through changes as it moved […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3881,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3882","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nNorth Carolina homeless encampment bill advances with tougher drug penalties - Raleigh Moving News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=3882\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"North Carolina homeless encampment bill advances with tougher drug penalties - Raleigh Moving News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"RALEIGH, N.C. 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