Warming centers aid Knox County residents in winter cold
Keeping Warm, Part 1 of 3
While factors – utility shutoffs, homelessness and equipment failures — constantly change, affecting the number of Knox Countians affected by lack of heating — local organizations indicate a significant number of residents, particularly low-income individuals and seniors, face challenges affording or maintaining adequate heating during cold periods.
Along with low-income individuals and families, the homeless population — according to the Knox County Office on Housing Stability’s 2025 Point-in-Time, 1,174 people in Knox County are identified as homeless on a single night — are looking for shelter.
While numbers are not available yet for this winter, Knox County Office of Housing Stability stated trends show major challenges, according to its website.
“Millions of U.S. households are behind on energy bills; heating aid [Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program] faced [federal] funding stalls, causing potential disconnections; and local offices … are struggling with increased need, limited funds and insufficient warming centers, indicating a high risk of households facing cold conditions,” the website stated.
Additionally, the site stated rising energy costs, up to 7.6 percent projected, compound issues for low-income families, straining resources.
Additionally, Knox County has warming stations, run by partners like the Office of Housing Stability, open on cold nights — usually below 25° Fahrenheit.
“Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability (OHS), in partnership with the Knoxville-Knox County Homeless Coalition, announced the launch of the 2025-25 winter warming center effort,” the Office on Housing Stability stated in its website.
“Warming centers will activate on nights when temperatures fall to 25° Fahrenheit or below, beginning as early as Dec.1, 2025 (depending on the site) and operating through Feb. 28, 2026.
According to OHS, there are warming stations at Church Street United Methodist Church, 900 Henley St., downtown Knoxville; Cokesbury Church, 9919 Kingston Pike in West Knoxville; East Knoxville’s Eternal Life Harvest Center, which tentatively has two locations: 2410 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., and 1801 Western Ave.; The Salvation Army, 409 N. Broadway (the former Foyer building next to the overpass); and Fountain City United Methodist Church, 212 Hotel Road in North Knoxville.
Also, there are centers at Vestal UMC or Magnolia Avenue UMC for overflow, often accommodating pets.
“In the winter of 2024-25, more than 400 people sought shelter at the warming centers,” the press release stated.
“We’ve seen a really steep rise in homelessness, but our number of emergency shelter beds have not kept pace,” OHS executive director Erin Read added.
People are urged to check the City of Knoxville website or KnoxTNHousing.org for current hours and locations as they can change.
Cokesbury Church’s warming center is open Dec. 1, 2025, through Feb. 28, 2026. According to its website, check-in is from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. While pets are allowed, they must be crated.
Cokesbury Church serves the homeless through its Fig Tree Day Center, which offers showers, laundry, meals, computers, resources along with its warming centers in the winter, which its website reports houses hundreds on cold nights.
Along with those services, the church stated on its website that it provides a sense of community, offering friendship and a sense of belonging.
Another organization that provides warmth for the cold is Knoxville Area Rescue Mission, which provides not only shelter but also Coats for the Cold, for which the collection took place from Monday, Oct. 20, through Friday, Nov. 7.
“Distribution started Monday, Nov.17, and lasted through Saturday, Dec. 6,” said Celia Lively, senior director of community engagement at KARM.
“All coats are donated, professionally dry-cleaned by our friends at Prestige Cleaners, then those in need can get a ticket to go shopping and pick out the coat they want,” she said. “We work with local service agencies, churches, schools and other non-profits to distribute the tickets.
Also, “we partner with Cumulus Media, WVLT and Prestige to make this annual coat drive possible,” Lively added.
“KARM provides shelter 365 days a year, regardless of weather,” Lively said.
“We have been operating at capacity since last winter, providing shelter to 370 people every night.
“However, during extreme weather, we can operate with a red flag policy, a critical emergency response plan designed to protect the most vulnerable members of the community when weather or environmental conditions pose an immediate and life-threatening risk,” she said.
“Building on KARM’s established White Flag process for inclement weather, the Red Flag response provides a structured and compassionate plan of action when conditions escalate beyond dangerous to life-threatening,” Lively explained.
“When a Red Flag is declared, our top priority is providing a safe place for anyone in danger from extreme conditions,” said Danita McCartney, KARM president/CEO. “We know that life on the streets can become deadly in a matter of hours.
“This policy ensures that we can respond swiftly, safely and with the dignity every person deserves,” she said. “During a Red Flag event, KARM will open designated indoor spaces as temporary co-ed safe areas where individuals may come inside to sit, warm up and use bathroom facilities.
“KARM staff will remain present to monitor the area, maintain safety and aid as needed,” McCartney added. “This policy reflects our ongoing commitment to the safety and well-being of every person who comes to KARM. We will continue to look for ways to serve our neighbors with compassion and excellence, especially when their lives are most at risk.”
Although KARM does not run the warming centers, “we definitely work side-by-side with them,” Lively said. “We communicate with warming center leaders daily to best serve our neighbors during this cold weather.
Here is the website with additional information about warming centers: https://knoxtnhousing.org/warming-centers.html
“Since KARM operates 365 days a year, we wouldn’t technically be considered a warming center like the others are,” Lively said. “However, KARM added 40 extra beds for the winter this year, back in October, to prepare for the winter months, and we’ve been at capacity every night.
“Just last night, we had 375 people stay with us and we served 977 meals yesterday (Dec.17).
Also, Volunteer Ministry, 511 N. Broadway in Knoxville, works with the city of Knoxville’s warming center network, providing volunteers and free transit.
Its mission is to serve individuals “who are in crisis and who may be at risk of losing their housing,” VM’s website stated. “It also serves the homeless who are in need of an assessment for housing services.”
Services provided include assistance with rent, utilities, transportation, prescriptions, birth certificates and state-issued identification and housing assessments.”
