2008 Woodie Awards
Homeless center proposed next door
Clarisa Barnes
Issue date: 9/28/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
By Clarisa Barnes
Assistant News Editor
A resource center for homeless people has been proposed less than a mile away from UTC's campus.
The Chattanooga Community Resource Center for the Homeless would be constructed on the former Farmers' Market site at 700 E. 11th Street downtown.
Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield announced the proposal for the "homeless services complex" earlier this year, causing much controversy.
Chattanooga residents have expressed concerns with environmental cleanup, decrease in property value and physical safety, according to a July 23 article in the Chattanooga Times Free Press. UTC students also have concerns.
Jonathan Gordon, a Memphis freshman, said he thinks the center is a good thing for the homeless but suspects it may bring problems for students.
"It gives [the homeless] a place to go and a roof over their head," Gordon said. "It means more traffic of homeless people on campus."
Gordon said he had one woman approach him near UTC Place and ask him for money.
Ricky Dortch, also a Memphis freshman, had a different opinion than Gordon.
"It shouldn't be a problem," Dortch said. "I don't think the homeless people would come on campus."
Erica Savin, Oak Ridge, Tenn., freshman, said she thinks it is a good idea in general to build centers for the homeless but is not sure about one being built so close to campus.
"I think that you should help fellow human beings, but I'm not sure about the ethics and morals [of homeless people]," Savin said. "It could put students at risk."
Ryan Kennedy, also an Oak Ridge, Tenn., freshman, expressed mixed feelings about the center being near campus.
"[The center] is better than having [homeless people] on the street," he said. "I might be stereotyping, but it seems they would do anything to survive." Kennedy did list a few benefits, too.
"It will provide some sort of safety and help them build a life of their own again," he said.
Both Savin and Kennedy agreed that it is better to build a center near campus than to not build one at all.
Executive director of Chattanooga Homeless Coalition said in a later issue of the Times Free Press that most people have the wrong idea about homeless people.
"The homeless are more likely to be victims of crimes than perpetrators," he said.
According to a brochure for the center, its mission is to facilitate a seamless transition from homelessness to permanent housing.
The center is a response to the Blueprint to End Chronic Homelessness in the Chattanooga Region in 10 Years, Mayor Littlefield said in a Aug. 10 Times Free Press article.
The initiative was created by former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker's administration in 2003.
Assistant News Editor
A resource center for homeless people has been proposed less than a mile away from UTC's campus.
The Chattanooga Community Resource Center for the Homeless would be constructed on the former Farmers' Market site at 700 E. 11th Street downtown.
Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield announced the proposal for the "homeless services complex" earlier this year, causing much controversy.
Chattanooga residents have expressed concerns with environmental cleanup, decrease in property value and physical safety, according to a July 23 article in the Chattanooga Times Free Press. UTC students also have concerns.
Jonathan Gordon, a Memphis freshman, said he thinks the center is a good thing for the homeless but suspects it may bring problems for students.
"It gives [the homeless] a place to go and a roof over their head," Gordon said. "It means more traffic of homeless people on campus."
Gordon said he had one woman approach him near UTC Place and ask him for money.
Ricky Dortch, also a Memphis freshman, had a different opinion than Gordon.
"It shouldn't be a problem," Dortch said. "I don't think the homeless people would come on campus."
Erica Savin, Oak Ridge, Tenn., freshman, said she thinks it is a good idea in general to build centers for the homeless but is not sure about one being built so close to campus.
"I think that you should help fellow human beings, but I'm not sure about the ethics and morals [of homeless people]," Savin said. "It could put students at risk."
Ryan Kennedy, also an Oak Ridge, Tenn., freshman, expressed mixed feelings about the center being near campus.
"[The center] is better than having [homeless people] on the street," he said. "I might be stereotyping, but it seems they would do anything to survive." Kennedy did list a few benefits, too.
"It will provide some sort of safety and help them build a life of their own again," he said.
Both Savin and Kennedy agreed that it is better to build a center near campus than to not build one at all.
Executive director of Chattanooga Homeless Coalition said in a later issue of the Times Free Press that most people have the wrong idea about homeless people.
"The homeless are more likely to be victims of crimes than perpetrators," he said.
According to a brochure for the center, its mission is to facilitate a seamless transition from homelessness to permanent housing.
The center is a response to the Blueprint to End Chronic Homelessness in the Chattanooga Region in 10 Years, Mayor Littlefield said in a Aug. 10 Times Free Press article.
The initiative was created by former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker's administration in 2003.
