At the beginning of a semester, Mark Majors (the shop class instructor at Union County High School) asks the students what sort of projects they want to work on in their class. They need to identify a problem, brainstorm solutions choosing the best one and then implement that solution. It is a group decision. These students decided to team up with the TN Valley Coalition for the Homeless (TVCH).
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.
There are many reasons for needing a shower trailer in Maynardville to help those who are living rough, do not have running water or need a hand up. The TN Valley Coalition for the Homeless (TVCH) has been taking this trailer to 12 rural counties, and this month has started a relationship with Union County. Their trained staff does an intake for each client – a chat to see what needs they can meet. Director of Outreach, Macrea Love, said that the intake “helps us better cater to each person’s individual needs.
Homelessness is a complex issue with a variety of interconnected causes and a challenge for any community. Trying to help the homeless folks in a small county setting with few resources is a difficult (some say impossible) challenge. There are many points and counterpoints, many more than I had considered. The primary drivers of homelessness are a lack of affordable housing, poverty and unemployment, often exacerbated by mental health issues, substance abuse and domestic violence. Lack of access to healthcare and support services also plays a significant role.
TN Valley Coalition for Homeless (TVCH) is a small, non-profit organization with a primary goal to house the homeless. They do this through their Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program. TVCH works to house the homeless; educate the community; and provide permanent solutions to homelessness in 12 East TN counties.
Their work is strictly rural; they do not work within the cities of these counties. Anyone who is homeless or facing homelessness in Union or surrounding counties can request help by calling 888-556-0791.
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.
When living in Sharps Chapel many years ago, my husband and I explored an area called Palmer’s Junction. It was a lovely little picnic area right on the water. We noticed that some people were “probably” homeless, living there in tents and maybe cars. I am not one to walk up to strangers and ask them if they are homeless, which is why I say “probably.” Upon reflection, and after talking to other Chapel residents at the time, we discovered that many were. That was my introduction to homelessness in Union County.