CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Clarksville leaders are considering a first-of-its kind initiative to help students facing homelessness.
“Every time I'm with a group or even with individuals and I say, 'Well, we're working to house the 1,300 unhoused students in Montgomery County,' they're like, 'What did you say? How is there that many?'” Ann Waddle, Secretary for the Irene Center for Hope, said.
A new proposal before City Council looks at purchasing a quadplex in northeast Clarksville to serve as temporary transitional housing for families with students facing homelessness. The city would use federal Housing and Urban Development funding to purchase the property.
“They are stressed because they are hungry, because they are sleepy — they are not able to achieve what they might be able to achieve if they had a stable home environment and were able to get a good night's sleep,” Waddle said.
The quadplex being considered was most recently appraised at roughly $680,000.
“Our plan is for the city to purchase the property, own the property, and then enter into an agreement with Irene Center for Hope to manage the property and work through the referrals from the Montgomery County School System," Michelle Austin, the Director of the City of Clarksville's Neighborhood and Community Services, said. "So it's really great; it's a really exciting collaboration here in our community."
The program is designed to benefit more than just students. Parents would be provided with job training, home maintenance training and budget and finance coaching from a local bank.
"We think it will impact the children. It will also impact the parents because the parents are so very stressed over, 'Where are we going to sleep at night? How am I going to feed my children? Can I even get them to school tomorrow? Because we may have to sleep across town,'” Waddle said.
The measure still has several votes before it could reach a final reading in August. If things go well, Clarksville Neighborhood and Community Services may look at expanding the program beyond the quadplex.
“I don't think anybody can hear that number and not step up and find a way to respond," Austin said. "It is very startling. I know it was startling to me the first time I heard that number."
If passed, the Irene Center for Hope will welcome furniture and household good donations, in addition to volunteers willing to help families move into the quadplex. You can reach them via email here.
