The latest data on homelessness in Knoxville suggests that high rent prices and a low number of housing options are contributing to the problem.

The Knoxville Homeless Management Information System is a partnership between the city, the University of Tennessee and the Knoxville Knox County Homeless Coalition. The group tracks homeless data and recently released 2024′s second-quarter numbers.

According to KnoxHMIS, homelessness in the area is on the rise with a reported increase in homeless people from the beginning of this year into the second quarter up over 100 people.

KnoxHMIS tracks those numbers by counting how many people use their homeless services.  42% of the people in Knoxville who cannot find a place to live say there aren’t enough affordable options available.  Rising rent prices are making the problem worse, in 2022, the National Association of Realtors listed the Knoxville market as number one for rent price increases.  On average, over the last five years, 13% of Knoxville’s homeless population who worked with homeless services returned to homelessness after getting permanent housing.

Overall, the group claimed the problem would not be fixed until more and cheaper options became available in and around Knoxville. 

To view the full report, please go to: https://knoxhmis.sworpswebapp.sworps.utk.edu/dashboard/index.html