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Office of Homeless Services reports housing outreach wins, shelter partnerships and donation drives
Summary
Office of Homeless Services staff reported recent outreach successes including a fundraising 5K, housing placements from an encampment, partnerships to staff the cold-weather shelter, and upcoming donation and community resource events.
Allison Cantway, representing the Office of Homeless Services (OHS), briefed the committee on recent outreach and partnerships.
Cantway said OHS hosted a 5K on Oct. 3 as part of “Metro Makes a Difference,” with 44 runners and walkers and more than $2,000 raised; the OHS staff participated fully. She said a delegation of 75 officials from Oklahoma City visited Nashville to learn about local services and that staff from OHS, the mayor’s office and Room in the Inn met with the Nashville Rescue Mission to discuss city support for the city’s largest emergency shelter.
Cantway described an outreach effort at an encampment on Cement Plant Road: a 30-day notice was issued to eight individuals, and OHS reported seven of those eight individuals have been housed so far and staff are working with the remaining person.
She also highlighted cold-weather shelter planning and new partnerships: Meharry Mental Health Cooperative and the Metro Public Health Department will provide trained clinical staff on-site at the city’s overflow cold-weather shelter to respond to medical and mental-health needs. Cantway asked for community support for a clothing drive on Nov. 4 targeting heavy coats, hats and gloves, and noted a community resource fair on Nov. 20 for service providers and neighbors.
Pastor Tucker introduced Gavin Cromwell as a new staff member who will lead a language access assessment for the city; Cantway and attendees encouraged colleagues to engage with the effort.
Cantway closed by noting council support and local volunteer coordination opportunities; she also thanked councilmembers who are organizing local clothing drives.
Announcements and resources - OHS 5K (Oct. 3): 44 participants; >$2,000 raised. - Cement Plant Road encampment: 8 residents received 30-day notice; 7 housed to date. - Cold-weather shelter partnerships: Meharry Mental Health Cooperative and Metro Public Health Department to provide on-site clinical staff. - Clothing donation drive: Nov. 4 (heavy coats, hats, gloves). - Community resource fair: Nov. 20 (service providers and neighbors).
