Workman Road Camp Housing Fund Relief
Spende geschützt
Hi everyone. My name is Steven Howell, and I work with the City of Chattanooga in the Homeless Services Division. As you may already be aware, this last Tuesday, one of the largest homeless camps in Chattanooga (near Workman Road) was destroyed by the Chattanooga Police Department by order of the property owner. While, to be clear, no one is arguing that trespassing is okay, the means by which the individuals were removed were entirely improper, and my office was left entirely out of the loop that the displacement was occurring (something the Police are well aware they are to do when something like this is to take place). In fact, no services providers in the area were informed. Now, 40+ individuals have been scattered from a location some spent more than 10 years in and have lost all, if not most, of what they had.
Thankfully, our office—along with the help of many local nonprofit partners—was able to act quickly and try to minimize the harm being done. I am thankful to everyone who jumped in to help carry out as many meaningful belongings that belonged to our friends at the Workman Road camp. Following the disaster, our office was able to immediately house rough 17 individuals in temporary housing for the next three weeks. We have accounted for roughly 17 more individuals who scattered after the bulldozing began and are hoping to find them a similar situation also. Ultimately, we are hoping to find permanent supportive housing for all 35-40 individuals as soon as possible.
For that reason, we are asking YOU, if you feel moved to give on behalf of the individuals experiencing homelessness, for the following help:
1. If you are not already aware, Chattanooga does not have any shortage of available housing. However, AFFORDABLE housing is absolutely scarce. To that end, while we have high hopes to house all those displaced by the Workman Road camp destruction, we cannot do so if landlords in our area are unwilling to work with us. That being said, if you are a local landlord or if you know a local landlord, would you please consider reaching out to our housing navigators to discuss what working together might look like? If so, please contact me via the link on this page.
2. Thanks to some INCREDIBLY generous people all across the country, we have already raised $4,000 in 3 days to help our friends in need. In order to give us more time to find permanent housing, we are hoping to raise $10,000 total to allow our friends to stay in a hotel for 3 more weeks.
To those who have already donated, I cannot thank you enough. Please continue to share and repost this, so that we can make another major dent in ending homelessness in our area!
Blessings,
Steven
Thankfully, our office—along with the help of many local nonprofit partners—was able to act quickly and try to minimize the harm being done. I am thankful to everyone who jumped in to help carry out as many meaningful belongings that belonged to our friends at the Workman Road camp. Following the disaster, our office was able to immediately house rough 17 individuals in temporary housing for the next three weeks. We have accounted for roughly 17 more individuals who scattered after the bulldozing began and are hoping to find them a similar situation also. Ultimately, we are hoping to find permanent supportive housing for all 35-40 individuals as soon as possible.
For that reason, we are asking YOU, if you feel moved to give on behalf of the individuals experiencing homelessness, for the following help:
1. If you are not already aware, Chattanooga does not have any shortage of available housing. However, AFFORDABLE housing is absolutely scarce. To that end, while we have high hopes to house all those displaced by the Workman Road camp destruction, we cannot do so if landlords in our area are unwilling to work with us. That being said, if you are a local landlord or if you know a local landlord, would you please consider reaching out to our housing navigators to discuss what working together might look like? If so, please contact me via the link on this page.
2. Thanks to some INCREDIBLY generous people all across the country, we have already raised $4,000 in 3 days to help our friends in need. In order to give us more time to find permanent housing, we are hoping to raise $10,000 total to allow our friends to stay in a hotel for 3 more weeks.
To those who have already donated, I cannot thank you enough. Please continue to share and repost this, so that we can make another major dent in ending homelessness in our area!
Blessings,
Steven
Organisator
Steven Howell
Organisator
Chattanooga, TN