People and practical help
Housing, shelter, legal help, and practical options
These listings offer connections for care, education, housing, benefits, food, organizing, transportation, or disposal. They are independent organizations; ask about current availability, cost, scope, consent, and safety before relying on them.
Public housing and Housing Choice Voucher pathway for low-income families, seniors, and disabled residents - Knoxville and Knox County; income, application, waitlist, and inspection rules apply
KCDC Housing and Section 8
Knoxville's Community Development Corporation provides public-housing options and administers Housing Choice Voucher programs, including VASH and Family Self-Sufficiency pathways. KCDC says applications and waitlists are property- or program-specific, and its Section 8 page lists the current application schedule. Confirm openings, income limits, documents, reasonable accommodations, and wait time directly.
LIHEAP and Project Help energy assistance - Knoxville and Knox County; income, utility-territory, crisis, documentation, and capacity rules apply
CAC Utility Assistance
CAC administers LIHEAP and Project Help for eligible households. The current CAC page says 2026 LIHEAP applications are open, with assistance amounts depending on household energy burden, and describes Project Help for qualifying households in KUB's service territory facing a final notice and documented hardship. Confirm current eligibility, documents, and funding before applying.
Home repair, water-savings, weatherization, and lead-hazard-control pathway - Knoxville and Knox County; income, occupancy, landlord permission, and program rules apply
CAC Home Repair and Weatherization
CAC's Housing and Energy Services can help eligible owner- and tenant-occupied homes with measures such as repair, water-efficiency work, weatherization, and lead-hazard control. Ask whether the condition fits the program, what an assessment includes, whether landlord permission is needed, and whether there is a current waitlist. It is not a hoarding cleanup provider.
Case management, housing placement, homelessness prevention, employment, and supportive-service navigation - Knoxville and Knox County; eligibility and capacity vary
CAC Social Services and Homeward Bound
CAC Social Services provides case management and helps people experiencing homelessness or housing instability connect with housing, employment, education, and community resources. Ask whether Homeward Bound or another current program fits, whether coordinated entry or a case-management intake is required, and what support is available now.
Homelessness prevention and housing services, street outreach, resource center, and refuge - Knoxville and Knox County; intake, hours, and capacity vary
Volunteer Ministry Center
Volunteer Ministry Center works to prevent and end homelessness through housing services, outreach, a resource center, and Bush Family Refuge. Ask about current shelter or housing navigation, documentation, accessibility, and which service can address the immediate need. This is not a cleanup provider.
24/7/365 shelter, food, showers, and supportive services - Knoxville; shelter, identification, conduct, and capacity rules apply
Knox Area Rescue Ministries
KARM says it provides rescue services including food and shelter every day, around the clock, and its help page identifies showers and shelter for men and women at 418 North Broadway. Confirm current intake, eligibility, bed availability, accessibility, and what belongings can be brought. It is not a hoarding-support or cleanup program.
Emergency shelter, meals, rapid rehousing, and family or domestic-violence shelter pathways - Knoxville; program, population, and capacity rules apply
The Salvation Army Knoxville
The Salvation Army describes emergency shelter for men, women, and families, meals for shelter residents, and pathways such as rapid rehousing. Ask about current bed availability, population served, safety rules, accessibility, intake, and whether the household qualifies. It is not a cleanup provider.
Free civil-legal services for qualifying residents - East Tennessee; intake, income, case type, and capacity rules apply
Legal Aid of East Tennessee
Legal Aid of East Tennessee serves the region from its Knoxville office and identifies eviction and tenant-rights help among its services. Ask about eviction prevention, housing conditions, benefits, disability accommodations, or another civil issue affecting safety or housing. Legal aid is not an emergency service or cleanup provider.
Private-pay hoarding support, organizing help, groups, and family guidance - broader service area; scope, cost, scheduling, and travel rules apply
The Peer Tree
The Peer Tree is the private-pay pathway for organizing help, decluttering support, groups, family guidance, and practical next steps when a grant or public program is not the right fit. Ask about scope, cost, travel, consent, safety, and whether the requested support is available in Knoxville.
Digital peer-support pathway for people affected by hoarding and clutter concerns - online; not therapy or emergency support
Unburied
Unburied, from The Peer Tree, offers a judgment-free digital pathway with peer support, groups, and tools for people directly affected and for friends or family supporters. It is not therapy, a crisis service, or a substitute for emergency help.