KNOXVILLE, Tenn.—According to Knoxville’s recent annual point-in-time (PIT) count, the population is continuing to grow and more people are finding themselves without a home. Reportedly, 1,178 people are experiencing being homeless in Knoxville. TN. That is 50% more than last year.  Of that number, the city said 373 people did not have a shelter and the remaining 805 were either in an emergency shelter or transitional housing.  That total is made up of 985 households, 152 children, and 284 people dealing with either a serious mental illness, a substance use disorder, or a physical disability.

When it comes to why the homeless population is growing city leaders agreed on a primary cause: affordable housing. It is important to note that the city of Knoxville and several service organizations around the city have partnered together to combat homelessness. For example, the city has dedicated over 14 million dollars toward the construction of over 1,000 affordable housing units. Meanwhile, Volunteer Ministry Center has increased its outreach operations and personnel. The CEO of VMC of Knoxville, Bruce Spangler,  suggests voicing concerns to policymakers and people in government/leadership positions as something community members can do to help curb the number of people experiencing being homeless in Knoxville.

FULL STORY HERE