Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge nonprofit receives $35,000 federal grant to help fight homelessness

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An Oak Ridge nonprofit organization has received a $35,000 federal grant to help fight homelessness, officials said Thursday.

The Emergency Solutions Grant was awarded to the Trinity Outreach Center of Hope, or TORCH, the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, or THDA, said in a press release. TORCH will use the grant to help fight homelessness among high-risk populations in Anderson County and surrounding areas.

The funds will be used to help with administrative services, street outreach, prevention, and rapid rehousing services that will help homeless people and families in the area covered by TORCH, the press release said. [Read more…]

Quinn to discuss homelessness, TORCH in Monday program

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The director of an organization that helps homeless families in Oak Ridge and Anderson County will discuss homelessness during a Monday morning program in Oak Ridge.

Anthony “Andy” O. Quinn is executive director of TORCH, or Trinity Out-Reach Center of Hope.

Besides homelessness, Quinn will also discuss TORCH during the Monday program, which starts at 11 a.m. January 4 at the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge, which is at 101 West Madison Lane. The program is presented by the Women’s Interfaith Dialogue of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Bridges Out of Poverty training is Dec. 4, 11

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Bridges Out of Poverty Training Poster

Register by November 30

The Compassion Coalition is presenting Bridges Out of Poverty, a two-day training program for those who serve people who are homeless, in poverty, or in need.

“When you work with someone in need, do you wonder why they make certain choices?” the Compassion Coalition asks. “Do you wish they would experience faster success?  Do you give them ‘the look’ when they just don’t get it? If so, this training is for you.”

Bridges Out of Poverty training will be held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on two Fridays, December 4 and 11, at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge. This training class is in two parts, and participants must attend both sessions.

The interactive training explores how the economic environment in which people grow up impacts their ability to not only get by, but also get ahead in life. Registration is required by November 30, and the cost is $25 for the book and training materials. Agape House of Oak Ridge, a nonprofit organization that provides transitional housing for the homeless, is underwriting the cost of bringing the training to the community. [Read more…]

Photos: Community leaders sleep outside to raise awareness of homelessness

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Pastor Steve Sherman with Homeless Sign

Pastor Steve Sherman of First Christian Church is pictured above at a camp-out on a cold Thursday night at First United Methodist Church that was intended to raise awareness of homelessness. (Photos by James Lewis) 

 

Several community leaders camped out Thursday night at First United Methodist Church to raise awareness of homelessness. The volunteers also collected linens and personal care items for the upcoming Warming Center project and brought attention to the need for volunteers to help with the Point in Time Count.

Here are photos by James Lewis.

The community was invited to come out to support the sleep-out participants from 6-7 p.m. Thursday (January 15), and local homeless providers were expected to talk about their agencies and what they are providing to homeless individuals in the community. [Read more…]

Cold hands, warm hearts: Leaders to sleep outside to raise awareness of homelessness

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Several community leaders will spend the night of Thursday, January 15, sleeping outside at First United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge to raise awareness of homelessness and to collect linens and personal care items for the upcoming Warming Center project and bring attention to the need for volunteers to help with the Point in Time Count.

The community is invited to participate by coming out to support the sleep-out participants from 6-7 p.m. Thursday. There will be a free soup dinner. All community members are invited to attend.

Local homeless providers will be present to talk about their agencies and what they are providing to homeless individuals in our community. Information on the warming center project and the Point in Time Count will also be available. [Read more…]

Community forum on homelessness in Anderson County on Tuesday

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A Tuesday evening forum in Oak Ridge will focus on homelessness in Anderson County.

The free forum is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 18, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The forum has been organized by the Trinity Out-Reach Center of Hope, or TORCH, and ORUUC. It will bring together experts from social service agencies and the wider community for a panel discussion to explore how a 10-year plan to help reduce and alleviate homelessness could be effective in Anderson County, a press release said. [Read more…]

Forum on homelessness in Anderson County on Tuesday

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Experts from social service agencies and faith-based groups will discuss homelessness in Anderson County during a Tuesday evening forum.

The forum starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. It’s been organized by the Trinity Out-Reach Center of Hope, or TORCH, and ORUUC.

The experts and community members will also discuss factors that contribute to homelessness in the county, explore potential solutions, and consider how to begin a 10-year plan to end chronic homelessness, a press release said. The discussion will also outline ways that people can be involved in the upcoming “Point In Time Count.”
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Homelessness forum on Saturday

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First United Methodist Church and Trinity Out-Reach Center of Hope, or TORCH, are hosting a forum on homelessness from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

The free forum will be at First United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Preventing, ending homelessness discussed at ‘Lunch with League’

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Programs that could help prevent, reduce, and end homelessness will be discussed at “Lunch with the League” on Tuesday.

Mike Dunthorn, program manager for homeless service in the Knoxville Community Development Department, will be the guest speaker at Tuesday’s lunch, which starts at noon in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.

[Read more…]

Community forum on homelessness on Jan. 11

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A local organization and church have organized a Jan. 11 forum on homelessness, and the public is invited to attend.

The forum will start at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. It’s been organized by the Trinity Out-Reach Center of Hope (TORCH) and the church.

A press release said the forum will bring together experts from social service agencies, faith-based groups, and the wider community for a frank discussion about homelessness that will include the definition, faces of homelessness, an exploration of potential solutions, and ways that people can be involved in the Jan. 24 “Point In Time Count” (PITC).

[Read more…]

Monday forum on homelessness in Anderson County

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A Monday afternoon forum at the Oak Ridge Jewish Congregation will focus on homelessness in Anderson County.

The speaker will be Rick Morrow, executive director of the United Way of Anderson County. He will address the question, “Is there really a homeless problem in Anderson County?”

The community forum starts at 2 p.m., and it’s sponsored by the Women’s Interfaith Dialogue, a press release said.

The release said 31 people were identified as unsheltered homeless in Anderson County in January 2012. Another 20 people were in shelters, and 34 more were “precariously housed” and almost homeless. That’s a total of 85 people in need of a home, the release said.

The primary causes for homelessness in Anderson County are job losses, a lack of affordable housing, underemployment or low incomes, domestic violence, and substance abuse, the release said.

Monday’s forum is expected to include information about initiatives to address the serious issue of homelessness in the area.

The Oak Ridge Jewish Congregation is at 101 W. Madison Lane.