Veteran Homelessness Continues In UC

The State of Tennessee saw a 24.9 percent decrease in veteran homelessness last year, but the numbers across the Upper Cumberland not as good.

Amanda Dobbs is the Tennessee Valley Health Care System Coordinated Entry Specialist. She said Putnam County saw a minimal decrease while Cumberland County saw a slight increase in veteran homelessness in 2024. Dobbs said a big reason the results are different locally, is the population increase leading to higher rental rates.

“Veterans who may have lived in housing for quite a while and landlords who no longer want to keep up with the property or they need to move for any reason they may have to be out of their current housing,” Dobbs said.

Dobbs said the data is based on a Point-In-Time count which is an annual count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night. Dobbs said in the meantime the best way to help local veterans get off the streets is to get the word out to community members.

“I think the magic of a more rural area like the Upper Cumberland is that the community really takes care of its own,” Dobbs said. “The resources are more spread out maybe than in urban areas.”

Dobbs said the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program has been a leader in addressing veteran homelessness. Dobbs said the program trying to work with local landlords.

“If we could have more landlords if they are interested in renting at affordable rates and are interested in renting to veterans in the program,” Dobbs said. “Anytime that we can increase affordable stock that is available that will also help the need.”