Tennessee Homeless Solutions uses the Department of Housing and Urban Development's definition of homelessness which has four broad categories:

• People who are living in a place not meant for human habitation, in emergency shelter, in transitional housing, or are exiting an institution where they temporarily resided. The only significant change from existing practice is that people will be considered homeless if they are exiting an institution where they resided for up to 90 days (it was previously 30 days), and were in shelter or a place not meant for human habitation immediately prior to entering that institution.
• People who are losing their primary nighttime residence, which may include a motel or hotel or a doubled up situation, within 14 days and lack resources or support networks to remain in housing. HUD had previously allowed people who were being displaced within 7 days to be considered homeless. The proposed regulation also describes specific documentation requirements for this category.
• Families with children or unaccompanied youth who are unstably housed and likely to continue in that state. This is a new category of homelessness, and it applies to families with children or unaccompanied youth who have not had a lease or ownership interest in a housing unit in the last 60 or more days, have had two or more moves in the last 60 days, and who are likely to continue to be unstably housed because of disability or multiple barriers to employment.
• People who are fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, have no other residence, and lack the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing. This category is similar to the current practice regarding people who are fleeing domestic violence.

As of the last, official count, about 564,708 people experience homelessness on any given night in the United States. More specifically in January 2016 during the annual Point in Time count 1,541 persons were counted to be homeless in West Tennessee.

Specific reasons vary, but research shows people are homeless because they can’t find housing they can afford. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), an estimated 12 million renter and homeowner households now pay more then 50 percent of their annual incomes for housing, and a family with one full-time worker earning the minimum wage cannot afford the local fair-market rent for a two-bedroom apartment anywhere in the United States.

HUD also notes that the generally accepted definition of housing affordability is no more than 30 percent of monthly income going toward housing costs. Families or individuals who pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing are considered “cost-burdened” and can have difficulty affording necessities such as food, clothing, transportation, and medical care.

The lack of affordable housing is a significant hardship for low-income households and can prevent them from meeting their other basic needs, such as nutrition and health care, or saving for their future.

If you are anyone you know may be homeless we implore you to contact the West Tennessee Homeless Hotline at 1-866-307-5469.

Yes you can! In fact we need your help! Community involvement is crucial to ending homelessness in West TN. Assitance comes in various ways from advocacy to direct volunteering. Please contact our office at 731-651-1020 to see how you can personally help us!

Donations are always welcome and are needed! Donations can be given electronically through the donations tab on this website or mailed to our office at 60 Natchez Trace Dr Lexington, TN 38351. All donations are tax deductible and a donation receipt is available upon request.