KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Homelessness continues to be a concern for people across Knoxville. Leaders organized an event on Wednesday to give the community a chance to both discuss their concerns and share policy ideas about it.
It was at the Knox County Public Library in Cedar Bluff, and the group included both housed and unhoused community members. There, they discussed the factors surrounding homelessness and how they would approach solutions to it.
Erin Read, the executive director of the Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability, said the city is always looking for ways to help people who are homeless.
"Very few people really choose to be homeless in our community. We have a lot of barriers for people to be able to access services. We don't have enough services to serve everyone who is homeless, and we have a homeless population that is growing," she said.
KnoxHMIS, a database of statistics surrounding homelessness in Knoxville, said the issue has only grown over the past year. In the third quarter of 2023, it said 1,628 people were homeless. In the second quarter of 2024, it said 1,914 were homeless. Around 300 more were at risk of being homeless.
Evictions, a lack of affordable housing and employment issues were the top factors behind homelessness.
The city planned other listening sessions. Upcoming ones are listed below.
- Monday, Nov. 18, 5:30-7 p.m., Burlington Library, 4614 Asheville Highway
- Wednesday, Nov. 20, 5:30-7 p.m. South Knoxville Community Center, 522 Maryville Pike
