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In
May 1987, the Metropolitan Council for Community Services (now known as
the Community Research Council) completed a Chattanooga
Survey of the Homeless.
This effort was the primary impetus Since its inception the Homeless Coalition has had as its primary mission: 1. To provide a forum in which homeless issues could be discussed and addressed. 2. Advocating for the specific identified needs of individuals and families who are homeless to assure that the various systems involved work effectively on their behalf. 3. Identify and develop funding sources from both the public and private sectors for homeless programs. 4. Provide a vehicle through which information on homeless issues is disseminated to concerned agencies and organizations. The Coalition membership is composed of public and private agencies, members of the various faith communities, concerned citizenry, and homeless/formerly homeless. In 1994, a second survey of homeless in Chattanooga was conducted under the auspice of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, School of Social and Community Services. Through 1996-97, this study was “updated” annually by the Metropolitan Council for Community Services. In 1995, the Coalition was incorporated and received its 501(c) 3 status from the Internal Revenue Service as a non-profit corporation. The Coalition has been instrumental in the development of the Continuum of Care for Homeless services in the City of Chattanooga. In 1998 this effort was expanded to include ten Southeast Tennessee Counties.
The homeless population in the Chattanooga community increased by over 5% during the period from 1994 to 1996. By 1996 the total number of homeless had increased to approximately 8,179. During this same period the number of Hispanic homeless increased by 160%. Significant changes occurred in the makeup of the homeless population during this period. In 1994, twenty one percent of the homeless were female. By 1996 this figure had risen to thirty seven percent. Homeless under the age of eighteen changed from six percent in 1994 to almost thirty eight percent in 1996. Forty six percent of the homeless were single in 1994. By 1996, this figure had risen to seventy seven percent. Homeless heads of households under the age of twenty doubled between 1994 and 1996. It is estimated that over sixty percent of the Chattanooga homeless have mental health, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS or other chronic health problems. Others are the victims of abandonment and domestic violence. A majority of the homeless live “on the street”, in cars, or in emergency shelters. What is alarming is the increase in the number of homeless women with children. In 2003, the Coalition will conduct another survey of homelessness in southeast Tennessee. Back to About Us
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