The City of Chattanooga will begin admitting homeless residents to its temporarily-sanctioned encampment this weekend.
A release says the city will work to determine who is eligible through a referral-driven application process.
The city-owned encampment, which is operated by nonprofit organization Help Right Here, is designed to give residents a safe space to begin the process of securing permanent housing, and will provide tents, toilets and security.
City spokesman Ellis Smith stresses this encampment is not meant to serve as a permanent home.
But he says it will let residents get better access to services and programs they need to escape the homelessness cycle.
“Studies show that it’s extremely difficult to take the steps necessary to exit homelessness when you live in an insecure environment where your documents could be stolen or space invaded by a stranger,” said Sam Wolfe, director of the city’s Office of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. “By creating a secure location for these residents to live, we will speed their exits from homelessness and empower them to take the next step in their lives.”
Anyone experiencing homelessness may apply for admission to the encampment via a referral from either the Community Kitchen or Homeless Healthcare, both of which are located one block north of the temporary sanctioned encampment, which itself sits at the corner of 12th Street and Peeples Street.
The city is granting priority admittance to residents of a nearby encampment which sits on property next to an active rail line.
Residents were previously asked to vacate for safety reasons no later than May 31. The temporary sanctioned encampment is located about two blocks from the 11th Street property and will open ahead of that deadline.
Nicole Troutman tells us she’s been living on the streets of Chattanooga for the last two weeks after she left an abusive relationship.
"I said, you can keep everything I just want my life and my freedom," said Troutman.
Troutman says since she became homeless she's worked with case managers and tells us she was one of the first to sign up for the city sanctioned camp that's set to open Saturday.
"One of the reasons I wanted the safety camp is because there's a lot of people who get hurt here at nighttime. There's people who are getting raped and beaten and all of their identification completely stolen from them," said Troutman.
Troutman says she's looking forward to the stability and security that will come with the city sanctioned camp.
Anyone accepted into the camp will need to follow strict rules... This as they live in a fenced in space with onsite toilets and security.
"It's an actual three page rule list of everything that's going in there. If you come in under the influence, they're going to request that you leave, then you're going to be barred out for three days," said Troutman.
The camp is meant to provide a structured environment for residents as they work with nonprofits to move into more permanent housing.
"I'm not looking to make this any more permanent than a couple of months. I mean, if you're serious about getting your life together, it shouldn't take you two years, it shouldn't take you eight years, it shouldn't take you nine years," said Troutman.
After losing his job and becoming homeless in November, Kennedy Fleming also says he's worked to get off the streets.
"This ain't normal right here, being out here everyday-- it's not normal," said Fleming.
Fleming says he was just approved for affordable housing and says its a matter of time before he’s settled into a new home.
But after months of living in a tent on 11th street he agrees that the safe camp could be a good first step.
David Costellow is the Community Engagement Director for the Community Kitchen.
It's one of the main organizations that services Chattanooga's homeless.
"We want to see people have a home of their own. I think that's everyone's dream and desire. But ultimately, there has to be that initial place where people can come to to get that process started," said Costellow.
According to the Regional Homeless Coalition, Hamilton County has seen a 177 percent increase in homelessness over the last year.
Costellow says the answer to rising homelessness is more affordable housing, but he says there is also a great need for more emergency shelters.
Now, Costellow says he's optimistic that the city sanctioned camp and the $33 million dollar commitment by Mayor Kelly to address affordable housing will help chip away at the problem.
This as Kennedy Fleming says his story exemplifies how so many can end up on the streets.
"You see someone's drunk, this and that, and mental health so you think a lot of them, they’re right where they belong or they deserve it. but it don't take nothing to lose your job and can't pay your rent to be put out," said Fleming.
The city says a maximum of 120 people will settle into the new camp.
There is already a waitlist for the camp as Help Right Here works to vet applicants and slowly build up the community.
The city says they expect about 15 people to be part of the first block of residents that will move in this weekend.