Wilmington, North Carolina has served as the idyllic background for numerous films and television shows — from “Dawson’s Creek” to “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” 

But despite its dreamy depictions on the silver screen, the city of Wilmington is not immune to an issue that is pervasive across the country: rising cases of homelessness. 

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that 649,535 people — across all 50 states — are currently experiencing homelessness. 

The latest data suggests that the number of unhoused people in Wilmington rose from 347 in 2022 to 558 in 2023 — with estimations that rates have grown to “epidemic” proportions in 2025. 

Although these numbers may seem small in comparison to larger cities, the homeless population in Wilmington is largely relegated to its downtown area — 300 city blocks. 

Eliza Baldwin, the county's strategy manager, attributed chronic homelessness to Wilmington’s packed shelters, which are frequently at capacity. 

Baldwin noted that although shelters serve immediate needs — like food, shelter, and showers — there are still overarching barriers in place when it comes to applying for housing and social services. 

Especially when it comes to people who have fled from domestic violence, experience substance dependence, or have a record of incarceration. 

“They express a deep need for safety and security as a foundation for overcoming their current situation,” Baldwin told Star News — a Wilmington-based news outlet. 

“And while many acknowledge the existence of numerous resources, they also highlighted the cumbersome and often overwhelming process of finding them and qualifying for them.”

As homelessness rises, so does the cost of housing. In the last decade, the gross rent in the city has skyrocketed by 50%. 

That problem came to a head in January 2020, when 30 homeless advocates and medical personnel convened to discuss the possibility of building a tiny home community for the homeless — many of whom were regular patients at the local hospital. 

Under the guidance of Dalton Thomas, a local anesthesiologist, the advocacy group drew inspiration from Eden Village of Springfield, Missouri: America’s first tiny home community for those experiencing chronic homelessness. 

“I ran across the group in Springfield, Missouri — my hometown,” Thomas said in an interview with Humans Fighting Homelessness. “We brought the Springfield guys out to meet everybody, to talk through what Eden Village was and see if we could actually get enough momentum to go — and the people just started lining up.” 

By April 2020, Eden Village of Wilmington raised over $500,000 in donations to begin building the 31-unit tiny home community — and numerous fundraisers led by local businesses continued to bolster support for the project. 

After three years of construction and planning, 31 wheelchair-accessible, fully furnished homes were built in a round-circle fashion — bookended by a community garden and a clubhouse center. 

By December 2024, every home was occupied by someone who had once lived on the streets. 

To qualify for housing, residents had to be “chronically homeless” in Wilmington for longer than a 12-month period. They also went through an application process that proved that they had a physical or mental illness that made them a high-cost burden to the public. 

Housing costs are subsidized by sources that include disability, social security, veteran benefits, family support, and work income. 

When asked how long residents can stay in Eden Village, the nonprofit replied: “Forever.” 

“Eden Village is designed to allow housing to those that may never be able to do it on their own,” explained a statement on the Eden Village website. 

“Most residents that qualify to live in an Eden Village are individuals that, due to mental health, physical limitations or extenuating circumstances, are incapable of moving to a fully independent stable home life, which has led them to their chronically homeless status that qualified them in the first place. 

“If residents meet the minimum requirements and are a good neighbor to other residents,” the nonprofit continued, “they are welcome to stay in their home.” 

Shawn Hayes — the Executive Director of Eden Village — told WECT 6 News that the community is all about giving people another shot in life.

He said, “To be in a home that’s in a community where people care for you and care about you, it’s a beautiful thing.” 

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Header image via ironypoisoning (CC BY-SA 2.0) and Eden Village of Wilmington