Local leaders in Knoxville and Knox County have taken a decisive step towards addressing their ongoing housing crisis by holding a summit focused on achieving what they call "functional zero" for chronic homelessness. The gathering was reported by local news outlets, including WATE and WBIR, bringing to light efforts by community leaders to make homelessness a rare and brief occurrence.
In the summit, Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon explained their approach, stating to WATE, "If you have 10 people who become homeless in a given month you have at least 10 or more who are finding housing at the end of that month." This system aims to not only balance out the numbers but to eventually reduce them significantly—indicative of a community-wide push to actively manage and to hopefully end the issue of homelessness.
The notion that "homelessness is a housing problem" was repeatedly emphasized during the engagements, a sentiment echoed throughout discussions, as reported by Ground News. This focuses on the creation of a well-coordinated community system where homeless individuals can quickly find shelter and the resources they need to stabilize their lives.
Julia Orlando, who has experience working in Bergen County, New Jersey—a place recognized for achieving functional zero in chronic and veteran homelessness—was the keynote speaker. Orlando stressed the key components necessary for this goal, explaining to WBIR, "Having access to affordable and safe housing is very important. Making sure people have access to services, and healthcare is very important." Her insights are gathered from successful strategies implemented elsewhere, informing Knoxville's potential roadmap ahead.
Mirroring these sentiments, James Tuttle with CareCuts shared with WBIR, "What we want is people to be there, to assist them and find the services they need. And work with them to get back off the street and live a normal life again." Mayor Kincannon further underlined the importance of housing, telling WBIR, "We need to get more housing built. We need more housing that is attainable for people."
Leaders intend for this summit to be the launchpad for sustained efforts across the community, with stakeholders actively exploring ways to replicate successful models and tailor strategies that meet the unique challenges of Knoxville and Knox County in their fight against homelessness.
