The document summarizes the mission and goals of the McMinn Homeless Task Force in McMinn County. The Task Force's mission is to serve the physical, social, and spiritual needs of the homeless and less fortunate by providing food and temporary shelter. It operates under Grace & Mercy Ministries and was created to prevent and end homelessness in McMinn County. The Task Force has four main goals - establishing committees to work on short and long-term goals, participating as a partner agency in the regional Continuum of Care, conducting annual point-in-time assessments of homelessness, and raising public awareness through educational events.

1. Priscilla Rutherford
Chair, McMinn Homeless Task Force

2. Our MISSION is to serve the physical, social and spiritual
needs of the homeless and less fortunate by providing food
and temporary shelter.
Our DESIRE is to lessen poverty and despair among the
homeless and needy, and to restore dignity and self-reliance
to those we serve.
MISSION

3. McMINN HOMELESS TASK FORCE
• Operates under the guidance and direction of Grace & Mercy Ministries
• Created to prevent and end homelessness in McMinn County while
ensuring immediate needs of individuals and families at risk or
experiencing homelessness are met.
• Provides the necessary infrastructure through communication,
collaboration and cooperation with community partners to develop a
more unified network of service providers and resources.
• A collective representation of churches, citizens, businesses and civic
organizations from the public and private sectors.

4. HISTORY
• April 2014 - The 2014 Leadership McMinn Class, sponsored by
the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, hosted a community
action forum titled “Room in the Inn” at Keith Memorial United
Methodist Church.
• May 2014 - McMinn Ministries hosted a follow up forum
facilitated by Kathi Parkins, Executive Director, Blount County
Family Promise.
• October 2014 - Grace & Mercy Ministries hosted a community
forum facilitated by Stephen Dick, Board Member for GMM.

5. HISTORY
• November 2014 – A recommendation was made that Grace &
Mercy Ministries be the Lead Organization for establishing the
McMinn Homeless Task Force.
• November 2014 – A 2015 Program of Work was recommended
and approved by the GMM Board.
• December 2014 – Grace & Mercy Ministries became a Partner
Agency in the Southeast Tennessee Continuum of Care
representing McMinn County.

6. CONTINUUM OF CARE
Continuum of Care: (Southeast TN CoC)
“A community plan to organize and deliver housing and services to
meet the specific needs of people who are homeless as they move to
stable housing and maximize self-sufficiency. It includes action steps
to end homelessness and prevent a return to homelessness.”
One of the most important activities entrusted to a CoC and Partner
Agencies is the biannual Point In Time Assessment.

7. PROGRAM OF WORK
Goals:
• POW #1 - Task Force Committees
• POW #2 - Continuum of Care Partner Agency
• POW #3 - Point In Time Assessment
• POW #4 - Public Awareness and Education

8. PROGRAM OF WORK – GOAL 1
Task Force Committees:
Working together on short-term and long-term goals to
prevent and end homelessness in McMinn County, while
ensuring immediate needs of individuals and families at
risk or experiencing homelessness are met.
• Immediate Needs • McMinn Resource
• Housing Solutions • Research & Development

9. PROGRAM OF WORK – GOAL 1
Immediate Needs: Works directly with homeless families and
individuals to meet their basic care needs.
• Socks / Gloves
• Food
• Blankets / Sleeping Bags
• Tents / Tarps
• Personal Hygiene
• First Aid
• Alternative Heat Source (Hot Hands)

10. PROGRAM OF WORK – GOAL 1
Housing Solutions: Works collaboratively with Service Providers
to ensures availability and accessibility for individuals and families in
need of transitional housing or who are at risk or currently
experiencing homelessness.
• Outreach, Assessment, and Referral in order to
identify clients, their needs and provide a link to
the appropriate Service Providers
• Emergency Shelter to provide an immediate and safe alternative to
sleeping in the woods in tents, especially for homeless families

11. PROGRAM OF WORK – GOAL 1
Housing Solutions:
• Transitional Housing to allow for the development
of skills that will be needed to maintain self-sufficiency
and permanent housing
• Permanent Housing to provide individuals and families with
affordable options for permanent housing

12. PROGRAM OF WORK – GOAL 1
McMinn Resource: Through collaboration, coordination and
communication, engages the entire community as an effort to
raise public awareness and support aimed at fostering shared
responsibility in developing solutions.
• Emergency Shelter & Alternative Shelter Options
• Transitional & Permanent Housing
• Community Development
• Unified Network of Partners, Service Providers & Resources

13. PROGRAM OF WORK – GOAL 1
Research & Development:
Responsible for identifying best practices in all areas of service
to individuals or families at risk of; or currently experiencing
homelessness.
The Research & Development Committee is also responsible
for identifying funding that will support our Mission and
maintain future sustainability for Service Providers.

14. PROGRAM OF WORK – GOAL 2
Partner Agency (Collaborative Applicant):
As a Partner Agency representing McMinn County’s homeless or “at
risk” individuals and families, Grace & Mercy Ministries:
• Coordinated McMinn’s 1st Point In Time Assessment
• Is Convening an Advisory Panel of Community Leadership
and Stakeholders
• Reviewing Best Practices for Planning and Implementation
of a Coordinated Assessment System
• Seasonal Emergency Shelter

15. PROGRAM OF WORK – GOAL 3
Point In Time Assessment:
A (PIT) is an assessment that offers a snapshot
of homelessness—of both sheltered and
unsheltered homeless populations.
• January 28th McMinn’s 1st PIT Assessment
• Volunteer Support – Over 40
• Needs Assessment Report – Identify Priority Needs
When: January of each year
(2016 is the next National Point In Time)

16. COORDINATED ASSESSMENT SYSTEM
Defined:
The approach to organizing and providing services to persons
experiencing a housing crisis that will make rapid, effective and
consistent client to service matches.
• Improve coordination of services
• Address local constraints and issues
• Align funding opportunities to strategic planning efforts

17. SYSTEM MAPPING TOOL
Questions to Answer:
• How many clients currently access services?
• How do clients use existing services?
• Are existing services sufficient to meet the demand?
• Where are the gaps and pitfalls in services?

18. WHY COORDINATED ASSESSMENT?
• Sends people in need of services to the most appropriate
Service Providers from the beginning
• Makes navigating services much easier
• Improves efficiency
• Fosters more collaboration among Service Providers
• Improves outcomes

19. WHO SHOULD BE INVOLVED?
• Social Service Providers
• Victim Service Providers
• Churches & Faith-Based Organizations
• Local Government, Law Enforcement & Emergency Services
• Businesses
• Advocates
• Public Housing Agencies & Affordable Housing Developers
• School Districts & Universities
• Mental Health Agencies & Hospitals
• Organizations that Serve Homeless & Formerly Homeless Veterans
• Organizations that Serve Homeless & Formerly Homeless Persons

20. PROGRAM OF WORK – GOAL 4
Public Awareness and Education:
National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week
Each year the week before Thanksgiving
One Night Without a Home
Nationally during Homeless Awareness Week
National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day
Each year on the longest night of the year, December 21st.

21. WISH LIST OF NEEDS
Facilities:
• Office Space
• Emergency Shelter
• Transitional Shelter
Startup Funding:
• 2 Full-time Staff
• 2 Computers
• Office Equipment
• Shelter Insurance
Volunteers:
• Committee Leadership
• Committee Support
Immediate Needs:
• Hot Hands (Hand Warmers)
• Socks / Gloves
• Pop Top Canned Foods
• Heavy Duty Sleeping Bags
MORE SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES

22. Thank you
for this
opportunity!