It is challenging to determine the exact number of unhoused people in Union County. I have been told that most of these folks couch surf or stay with relatives. Others travel to Knox County for services. And still others camp out in various locations around the county.

According to statistics provided by Nate First, LCSW, MA, Program Director of the Knoxville Homeless Management Information System (KnoxHMIS), approximately 47 people from Union County received assistance in Knox County during 2023. In 5 years (2019-2024), the approximate number of Union County residents receiving assistance was only 157, the majority of which were from the 37807 zip code, with a few from Luttrell and Sharps Chapel.

The Tennessee Valley Coalition for the Homeless (TVCH) receives few requests from our county. They state that their street outreach team provides food, supplies, and services directly to people experiencing homelessness across 12 counties, and their team is active in Union County. “We know that most people who are street homeless in Union County…are forced to move to downtown Knoxville because there are no services that can help them back home”, said Katelyn McGuire, MPH, TVCH Executive Director. “There is no central hub or space where they can congregate in Union. That is why most people couch surf or move away.” Knox County has a much larger population and many more resources to offer than a small county like Union.

In 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that cities can enforce bans on homeless people sleeping in public places and impose fines or jail time for doing so. The City of Knoxville has, so far, chosen not to enforce that law. It's generally not illegal to be homeless, but many states have laws that criminalize specific behaviors associated with homelessness, such as public sleeping, camping, or loitering.

Union County has a mixture of people who are homeless and decide to stay in the county. Some had a financial disaster – extreme medical bills, downsized from work, illness, and unable to work. Some prefer not to have walls around them. Some individuals may be mentally unbalanced, with a unique perspective on the world. Others may want to stay off the government radar. And there are swindlers, ne’er-do-wells, trying to manipulate the system. However, some are families with children, doing their best in what may be the worst times for them.

Homelessness and the resources for the unhoused are complex issues. Read more in Part 3.