Knoxville ‘Guest House’ reopens for homeless ahead of cooler climate

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The metropolis and group support providers are featuring much more housing and shelter chances to the homeless, which include reopening the “Visitor Household” in an hard work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as cooler climate ways.

The city will close homeless encampments as nicely.

“We are creating a coordinated shift in how we assist folks who are unsheltered in the course of COVID-19,” Mike Dunthorn, homeless software coordinator for the city’s Place of work on Homelessness, reported. “While open up-air encampments can provide actual physical distancing, the overall health, sanitation and security problems are worsening for those residing in this sort of encampments – which includes the onset of colder temperature.”

Knox County Metro Drug Coalition and Volunteer Ministry Heart opened the Visitor Residence in April to shelter people going through homelessness who are awaiting COVID-19 test success.

“I am delighted that Knox Location Rescue Ministries, Volunteer Ministry Centre and the Salvation Army have been in a position to function with Well being Office steering to modify their facilities to enable safer sheltering all through the pandemic,” Dunthorn stated. “Our immediate aim now is to test to get all people we can into a healthier, sheltered place.”

The city is also in the course of action of generating $2.2 million in federal CARES Act funding readily available to aid added outreach, shelter modifications and expanded functions.