Knoxville — Knoxville crews have spent the last several weeks transforming a site under the I-40 bridge off Broadway.
The area is where many of the city's homeless have set up camp and slept overnight.
In an effort to clean up the space and provide better amenities and resources for that population, the city has opened up a new courtyard area.
They've added permanent picnic tables, bench seating, port-a-potties, and outlets for charging stations.
"A place for people to be who might be homeless and don't have somewhere else to be, and don't feel yet like they have somewhere else to be, this is a public place they can come to as a starting point," Mike Dunthorn, Homeless Programs Coordinator, explained.
He and other organizers are excited for the changes but have a deeper vision for how it will help those in need.
"Ultimately we want people to not be homeless and get into shelter and permanent housing," Dunthorn said. "The idea is to break the cycle, and do something different."
Along with a full-time security guard, social workers will be on site.
"Their objective is to reach out to the folks not connected to the right resources to get off the streets," Dunthorn said. "This is part of a strategy to help them make those connections and get into housing."
Before beginning the project, the city surveyed the homeless population to see what they wanted. They stress though -- people won't be able to just live there.
The area will be open starting at 7 a.m. and closing at 5.
Outreach workers are hoping that will encourage those seeking overnight shelter to go into KARM at night instead of staying outside, especially as temperatures drop.
If people in the community are looking to help the homeless, Dunthorn gives this advice.
"The first thing to do is call and connect with an agency already working on the issue and find out how you can plug in and fill in a gap. Your resources and efforts will go much further than if you simply come out, hand something out and go home."