Программа центра Харрелсона помогла 69 семьям избежать выселения в Новом Ханovere

Harrelson Center program helps 69 families avoid eviction in first year WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - A program at the Harrelson Center successfully helped 69 local families avoid eviction or foreclosure in its first year, even as New Hanover County’s eviction rate climbed to the 21st highest in the state. According to center officials, the Housing Navigation program, which launched in May 2025, achieved a 95% success rate by providing personalized, 90-day case management to residents at risk of losing their housing. Officials said the initiative emerged from data collected by the Harrelson Center’s Help Hub, which offers short-term emergency financial assistance for utility bills and urgent expenses. Of the 73 households that completed the 90-day program in its inaugural year: - 27 moved into new, more affordable rental housing. - 19 remained in their existing rental homes. - 16 avoided eviction after already receiving an eviction notice. - Two avoided foreclosure. - One remained in its owned home. - Four households were ultimately evicted. The program’s success comes as local eviction filings continue to climb. In 2025, New Hanover County ranked 36 among North Carolina’s 100 counties for the number of evictions. By 2026, the county’s ranking rose to 21. “We could see that many of our Help Hub clients were just one unforeseen circumstance away from losing their housing,” said Nikki McLaurin, the Harrelson Center’s housing navigator. “Housing Navigation allows us to go beyond addressing the immediate crisis. We work with each household to identify resources, develop a plan, maintain weekly check-ins and provide personalized guidance to help them remain stably housed.” Officials stated that although the program’s initial year shows a high success rate, the demand far surpasses its capacity. Currently, only one full-time housing navigator manages the initiative. “Preventing homelessness is far more than keeping someone housed for another month,” said Meade Van Pelt, executive director of the Harrelson Center. “It is about helping people identify sustainable housing, connect with resources, and address circumstances and barriers that put them at risk. Our plan and these outcomes demonstrate what is possible with intervention and collaboration before a person or family reach the crisis of homelessness.” Copyright 2026 WECT. All rights reserved.