How do people become homeless? It can happen to anyone. Overall, there are fewer and fewer rental options available. And this provides money-making opportunities for landlords as they raised (sometimes doubled) their rents, forcing folks to move out because their home had become unaffordable. There are other stories of landlords selling, dying, or moving, which resulted in the homelessness of some of the people. Many folks lost their income when they were downsized or had an illness or disability that prevented them from working. The recent funding cuts for addressing homelessness have only exacerbated the problem.

According to Bill Rush, CEO of Metropolitan Ministries in Chattanooga, the number of homeless people is increasing rapidly. Since January 2025, the population of homeless people in the Chattanooga area has grown by 12%. Yes, some of them have addictions, but it was Bill’s opinion that many did not become addicts until they became homeless.

A personal example: I didn’t know him very well. He lived in MS and was my husband’s brother. He was a Vietnam Veteran. I first met him about 30 years ago when he came to TN for a visit. And later he moved to TN. Although he was not married, he had been in a relationship for over 26 years. They were together through thick and thin: health challenges, money worries, life changes. But they kept to themselves and, after he retired from Blount Memorial Hospital as a Respiratory Therapist, we would meet them in Maryville a couple of times a year to catch up and share a meal. She had experienced daily seizures for years until the proper medication was found. And then she had a stroke. Her Social Security Disability benefits were not much to live on, but between the two of them, they managed to make ends meet.

Then, suddenly, he died. It was unexpected and a big shock. He had intended to write a will but never got around to it. With no will, his estate passed to his two sisters in Mississippi and his brother (my husband) in Maynardville. Nothing for his partner. His estate consists of a house and a mortgage, as well as some small investments. She did not have enough income on her own to support the home. The two choices were either to let the mortgage company foreclose or to try to sell the house. However, to sell it, she had to leave, and everything had to be removed from the house.

The intention was to find affordable housing that she could move into. Her relatives live in the Etowah/Athens area. Although none of them can take her in or offer much help, it is an area she is familiar with and has some emotional support from her family. Housing Authorities help screen folks and provide income-based housing. They are found in most large towns and cities. Assistance is offered in the form of either Section 8 or low-income housing. Section 8 housing provides rental assistance to low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities.

We filled out complex applications everywhere we could: Athens, Chattanooga, Cleveland, Etowah, McMinnville, Sweetwater, and the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. The story was the same. Waiting lists to apply for a low-income apartment were 1-3 years long, or they had too many applicants awaiting a placement and closed the waiting lists. She is now on all the open waiting lists, but nothing will happen quickly.

For the past two months, we have searched the internet for low-income housing or shelters. The existing shelters are on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 5:00 pm, and once the maximum capacity is reached, they close. No one else is admitted. Everyone must leave by 7 in the morning and live out in the elements during the day. That could not be an option for this disabled lady.

We found a temporary, albeit expensive, solution. There is an old motel that has some residential rooms and monthly rates. As for motel rates, the daily rate was relatively low ($35/day). But the cumulated monthly charge would take all of her SSI. Several of us are pitching in to help. However, this is a temporary and expensive fix, with the hope that a waiting list will open soon. Etowah estimates that they might have something in about 6 months.

What do people do when, through no fault of their own, there is nowhere to go, nowhere to couch surf, no one to take them in? There, but for the grace of God, go I.