KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — The Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability is appealing to churches and community organizations for help expanding warming center capacity before winter temperatures arrive.
According to Executive Director Erin Read, the community does not currently have enough shelter beds to meet the growing demand among Knoxville’s unhoused population.
“It’s really a math problem,” Read said. “Our homeless population has grown by 70% since 2018. Our number of shelter beds has not kept pace. We’re a little behind.”
Read said the shortage becomes especially concerning during periods of extreme cold, when a warm place to stay can mean the difference between life and death.
“So we had several deaths from hypothermia last winter,” Read said. “The two winters before that, we had one each winter.”
The need for additional warming center space has become more urgent following the recent arson fire at North Knoxville Baptist Church, which had planned to open its gym as a winter warming center.
Read said the church had recently committed to helping provide shelter before the fire damaged its facilities.
“North Knoxville Baptist had just stepped up,” Read said. “They were ready to go. And I was just heartbroken when I heard about the fire.”
Pastor Jim McNeal said the church’s sanctuary sustained devastating damage and that congregations are now meeting in the gymnasium while reconstruction plans move forward.
“We will be in this space until the sanctuary is complete,” McNeal said. “So at the earliest it would be next fall.”
Because the gym is now serving as the church’s primary worship space, the congregation can no longer use it as a warming center this winter.
McNeal said church members had unanimously approved the effort after learning about exposure-related deaths among unhoused individuals last winter.
“And the way we want to do that is what would Jesus do?” McNeal said. “We had this space here. It was available. It was warm.”
The city currently operates four warming centers, but Read says more capacity is needed.
“Ideally, we would like to add somewhere on the order of two to three dozen beds,” she said.
The Office of Housing Stability assists warming centers by providing overnight security, transportation through free bus rides, and warm meals. Participating churches and organizations are primarily asked to provide space and volunteers.
Officials encourage any congregation or community organization interested in helping to contact the Office of Housing Stability. Donations are also being accepted to assist North Knoxville Baptist Church as it recovers from the fire.
City leaders hope additional partners will step forward before temperatures begin to drop and emergency shelter needs increase throughout the region.
