KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Knoxville leaders said the city serves 242 unaccompanied minors experiencing homelessness.
Erin Read, the Executive Director of Housing Stability, said it's important to look at homelessness specifically for people under 24 years old. The city recently received a federal grant for around $1.8 million to specifically help young homeless people.
"Youth and children under 18, make up about a fifth of our homeless population in Knoxville and Knox County. And this youth homelessness grant is going to give us the tools that we need to really get youth back on their feet," Read said.
The city plans to use the grant money to fund several projects addressing different aspects of homelessness. Read said the city would spend the next two years working to implement the programming.
"Some of the projects that are going to be funded under this grant include housing and rental assistance for youth experiencing homelessness, and also system navigation — helping them find services, helping them find housing. And then, of course, diversion and prevention. So, if there are youth who are in danger of becoming homeless, this grant will have funding to help them avoid homelessness in the first place," Read said.
The Knoxville-Knox County Continuum of Care received the funding. It effectively centralizes multiple governmental and social service entities that work on homelessness within Knox County.
The Office of Housing Stability, the Continuum of Care and Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon all credit Knoxville's Youth Action Board for helping the city receive the grant. It is made up of young people who have all experienced homelessness, including Orin Paschall.
"I became homeless when I was 23, after, just, a series of unfortunate circumstances. It was really tough to walk into a homeless shelter and be like, 'I have no place to live. This is where I actually live.' Because a year previous, I had an apartment, I'm doing good — and then, I have nothing," Paschall said. "To be in the prime of my life and be absolutely nowhere — rock bottom."
He said he is proud of the work the board did and believes it's their lived experience that has made them fight so hard.
"It feels a lot better to know that there are people out there that actually wanna help, instead of just being like, 'Hi, you're homeless, whatever,'" Paschall said.
This is a three-year grant, but Read said if the city does well, it could receive additional funding to continue programs indefinitely. The city will request project proposals in August, inviting nonprofits to pitch ways they would address homelessness among young people.