About
Our History
In 1985, there was a lot of discussion and concern related to the emerging homeless trends that were appearing all over the country. Congress put forth the Homeless Persons Housing and Supportive Services Act of 1985 and during the same year Knoxville’s Mayor Kyle Testerman appointed 25 members to what would be known as the Knoxville-Knox County Homeless Coalition. Original members included the Executive Director of KCDC, the five Executive Directors from the local shelters, the Executive Directors from the mental health centers, the Vice President of St. Mary’s to name a few and he appointed Dr. Roger Nooe to chair the coalition. Dr. Nooe was a social work professor at the time at the University of Tennessee who brought objective oversight to the group. The coalition met once a month at the City/County Building and discussed emerging trends, familiarized themselves with everyone’s programs, developed operating standards for the local shelters in town and in 1986 completed the first homeless study in Knoxville where various agency representatives conducted an interview with individuals who were living on the streets and in the shelters. The KKCHC has been going strong and meeting monthly since 1985. It is now made up of agency representatives who volunteer to attend monthly meetings to coordinate services for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness in Knoxville. In 2009 we adopted our official mission statement “to foster collaborative community partnerships in a focused effort that seeks permanent solutions to prevent, reduce, and end homelessness.”
Member Agencies
Compassion Coalition
Ridgeview
Raising a Voice
Salvation Army
CAC
Legal Aide of East TN
Catholic Charities
Knox HMIS
United Way
VMC
Savannah's House
Helen Ross McNabb
Choice Health Network
Fig Tree
McNabb Center
Family Promise
Knox County
West Care
Knox Area Rescue Ministries
Please note that this is an incomplete list
to be updated soon
Meet the Executive Committee
President
Nate First
Vice President
Bruce Spangler
Treasurer
Sara Wilhelm
Secretary
Allie Cohn
Education Committee Co-Chair
Sabrina Greene
Education Committee Co-Chair
Elvia Reyes
City of Knoxville Office on Homelessness / CoC
Mike Dunthorn
Office of Housing Stability/ CoC
Shawn Griffin
Office of Housing Stability
Erin Read
Advocacy and Development Co-Chair
Sarah Bradsher
Advocacy and Development Co-Chair
Evan Stringer
Youth Action Board
Jasper McEwin
Youth Action Board
Brianna Hanson
Outreach and Engagement Committee Chair
Rosie Cross
Veterans Administration
Tiffany Higginbotham
Coordinated Entry/CHAMP
Chris Smith
Documents

