Partnering To End Homelessness

Throughout our community, friends, neighbors, and co-workers are going through the devastating struggle of losing their homes. But we believe through partnerships and compassionate support, everyone in Blount County can have a place to call home.

A Place to Stay is the entry point to services for neighbors in Blount County, Tennessee, who are experiencing homelessness. In partnership with our unhoused neighbor and other community agencies, organizations, and businesses, we coordinate services and provide support to our neighbor in efforts to remove barriers to housing.

We Are Actively Engaged In:

Listening to our neighbors experiencing homelessness, meeting them where they are
With our neighbor, identifying and linking to community resources to remove barriers to housing
Communicating with community partners and agencies to prevent duplication of and maximize services
Creating pilot projects to meet the need for transitional, permanent supportive, and attainable housing
Planning with the community to end homelessness in Blount County

It’s the Small Things

It’s the small things we tend to take for granted. In March 2022, Gina and Casey, ages 23 and 25 respectively, were sleeping in their car parking wherever they felt safe. They learned about A Place to Stay and enrolled in case management, setting and achieving goals. Having been

Jenna and Brent

Jenna and Brent were right on track, saved their money, built their credit, paid their bills on time…responsible. Then Jenna had a car accident and was hospitalized for three weeks. Although Brent continued to work, the two incomes that met their needs were temporarily reduced to one. Things

Charles

Charles became homeless after his wife divorced him at age 53. A high school dropout, he worked strenuous labor most of his life and sustained back injuries, disabling, and causing him immense pain. Eventually, he became addicted to prescribed medication. His education was a barrier; he never learned to

Mark

Mark Kelly is a long time Blount countian who is on a fixed income. Mark’s rent went up due when his apartment came under new ownership and he was no longer able to afford the rent. He experienced homelessness for months before he came to APTS for assistance where

Martha

Martha was a caretaker for her mother Mary, along with caring for her two children. They became displaced at the end of 2022 when their landlord wanting renters to buy the homes instead of renting them. Martha and Mary are both on a fixed incomes and could not afford

What a Lot of People Need

Damin is presently unhoused. As he tells his story of being overwhelmed by the recent death of his mother and now sleeping in a tent without financial resources and access to emergency shelter, his words are interrupted by his soft cries and the wiping away of his tears. “I just

When the Rent Eats First

Katie feels stuck in her present living situation. She had been homeless earlier, but now, life is still a struggle for her. She reveals that her place is quite expensive, with activities concerning her safety and well-being. She works 40 hours a week, making a living by cleaning houses,

A Tale of Many Lives

“I had the best husband,” Shirley joyfully says. “One night after church, a boy asked me if I would marry him.” He was 17, she was 15. “I said that I would have to ask my momma.” She was surprised to learn that he had already talked

Getting Back on Track

Beck grew up in foster care, aging out at 18. At 22 he found himself incarcerated. After nearly a year in jail and no support systems in place, he turned to a career specialist at the American Job Center to get his life back on track. After assessing Beck’s

Very Nearly Housed

A Place to Stay (APTS) has been working with an individual who is taking all the right action steps to permanent housing, but we have some exceptional hurdles to overcome. She must find a home within her budget and that is easily accessible due to mobility issues. She has

We Can Help!

Mentoring / Life-Coaching

Provide care coordination to remove barriers to housing and empower neighbors self sufficiency

Support Services

Connect neighbors with community agencies to meet client needs

Career Services

Creating sustainability through training and employment

How to Get Started

Personal Needs Assessment

Together, Develop A Personal Action Plan

Identify Resources / Support Network

Assess and Monitor

12-Month Follow-Up Post Exit

Visit Our

Community Outreach
Resource Center

The Community Outreach Resource Center is located inside the Blount County Public Library and operates Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Our staff listen to the neighbor’s needs and, with our neighbor’s help, create a plan to remove barriers. Follow-up is provided to ensure our neighbor’s trek is one of stability, self-sufficiency, and sustainability.