Jackson, TN – A recent study has been released that estimates the level of homelessness across the USA. This showed that two Tennesee cities were in the top 3 for lacking homeless emergency shelters. Specifically, the top 3 cities on the list were Jackson with 91%, Lake Okeechobee with 88%, and Chattanooga with 85%.
This means that of the 2.501 Homeless people in the 2 Cities, a total of 2,164 are unsheltered. Furthermore, the study also claimed that roughly 13 out of 10,000 people in Tennesee are homeless. This data was collected by a study named 2023 AHAR: Part 1 – PIT Estimates of Homelessness in the U.S. Posted Date: December 2023 which can be found in greater detail here.
These damning statistics show that Tennessee still has a long way to go when it comes to helping its homeless population. The difficulty Tennessee faces in housing its homeless population is a complex issue rooted in multiple factors. One of the primary factors is the lack of affordable housing. As housing costs continue to rise, many low-income and disadvantaged individuals are priced out of the market, leaving them without a stable place to live.
This problem is further exacerbated by the fact that the state does not have enough shelter capacity to meet the needs of its homeless population. Even when shelter is available, it can often be limited in its capacity to provide long-term housing solutions, leading to many individuals becoming chronically homeless.