News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
White County’s Seeds of Hope wants to educate residents about the increase in homelessness across the region as part of two town hall meetings.
Seeds of Hope Founder and Executive Director Tina Lomax said the meeting will discuss the impact of the issue on White County residents. Lomax said the meetings will hopefully engage residents who may want to help with the issue.
“Right now I’ve seen this year, probably a 40 percent rise in homelessness since last year,” Lomax said. “This will be our fifth shelter season and we are looking for a huge, huge turnout on our Coldest Nights shelter.”
Lomax said residents can help with general community awareness or help by volunteering at the shelter. The first town hall meeting takes place Monday morning at 9am at Christian Life First Assembly, 117 North Spring Street in Sparta.
“I think right now we’re seeing the stigma behind homelessness of people just thinking ‘these are just people who don’t want to work, they’re not self-sufficient, they’re just on drugs,’” Lomax said. “I’m seeing a rise in people just being priced out of their homes.”
Lomax said there will be a presentation detailing what homelessness looks like in rural areas compared to bigger cities.
“There’s always going to be drug use, mental health issues, and things of that nature,” Lomax said. “But the biggest thing is that the availability of housing right now and it being affordable is just out of reach for most people.”
Lomax said that Seeds of Hope works with the homeless of White County through its Cold Nights shelter as well as projects year round. Lomax said areas citizens can volunteer in include cooking, hosting, faith-based devotions, laundry, companionship, and transportation.
The second town hall will take place December 2.
