After identifying a growing problem within the region, Red Legacy Executive Director Carolyn Shrader stated steps are ready to be taken.
Shrader along with other volunteers from across the region recently concluded the Appalachian Regional Coalition on Homelessness (ARCH) 24-hour Point in Time Homeless Count within the eight counties of Northeast Tennessee, including Carter.
Taking place Tuesday through Wednesday of this week, Shrader provided a follow-up to the event.
“To my knowledge, our count (in Carter County) still stands at 22,” she said Friday. “And that’s just the amount of people we were able to get during that time.”
It’s an alarming number, Shrader added. The ARCH count uses the guidelines put in place by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — which define an individual being homeless as either being without a home, fleeing or attempting to escape domestic violence, or being at an imminent risk of becoming homeless.
The requirements expand when delving into the McKinney-Vento Act, which provides a broad spectrum of requirements to being considered homeless for children.
During a discussion with the Elizabethton Star Wednesday, Joy Drinnon with ARCH stated the homelessness numbers increase when delving into the McKinney-Vento classification for students within the county.
Shrader and Cheri Tinney, with the Elizabethton/Carter County Public Library, set out last Sunday to identify areas where homeless individuals were reported and provided items. When the official count took place, Shrader and others took to the streets to bring in people to be counted.
“Around campgrounds near the lake … under bridges,” Shrader said about the locations visited during the count. “It was devastating. You speak with these individuals and hear their stories. It’s heartbreaking.”
But the county was able to provide some solace to individuals. When reporting to the public library, which served as a survey post, individuals were able to receive various necessities.
“First Baptist Church gave out blessing bags, Bojangle’s and The Coffee Company provided refreshments and snacks for those being counted … ARCH of Washington County and Red Legacy also gave out hygiene products and other items,” Shrader explained about the day.
Seeing the number continually grow over the years has propelled Shrader to begin looking at ways to help the issue.
“Every year, our number keeps going up,” she said. “Right now, someone only options the Shepherd’s Inn, and it’s a domestic violence shelter. They can help when they can but with the type of numbers … there’s some people with nowhere to go. Just like this weekend when it’s supposed to be frigid, there will be people without a place to go.”
As the months go on, Shrader added a group would be comprised of city and county officials to look at getting ‘white flags’ instituted — allowing certain areas to take in homeless individuals when the opportunity arises.
Citizens looking to get involved can visit Red Legacy Recovery at 713 East Elk Ave. in Elizabethton or contact Shrader or call the office at (423) 297-1230. Shrader also encouraged people that know of homeless individuals to stop by the office. Red Legacy is able to provide clothing and also has a case manager on site to help with situations.