"Opening Doors For A Better Tomorrow", How the Volunteer Ministry Center Helps Those in Need

As college students, it is easy to get caught up in our own world. Between, classes, exams, game days, friends, and everything else, we are busier than a lot of people think. Because of that, homelessness in Knoxville is something that doesn't really cross our minds. But after starting our campaign with the Volunteer Ministry Center, I’ve realized that this issue is a lot more relevant to us than we think, and it’s something every student should care about. Every day, countless amounts of people in Knoxville are battling homelessness. A crazy thing to think about is that some of them are only a few years older than us. Some are veterans, parents, or people who hit a rough patch that could happen to anyone. With Knoxville’s rising rent prices and limited affordable housing, the line between “stable” and “struggling” is thinner than most students realize. Many students do not see this issue, as many of them live on or very close to campus where homelessness is not as much of an iss...

When people think about homelessness in Knoxville, many just picture a simple problem with a simple solution. But after learning more about it during my visits to the Volunteer Ministry Center (VMC), it became clear that homelessness is anything but a simple issue. It often involves facing a repeating set of challenges that most people never see. One of the biggest myths is that homelessness is always caused by bad personal choices. In reality, many people end up homeless because of situations completely out of their control. Rising housing costs, job loss, expensive medical bills, mental health issues, and domestic violence are all potential reasons that someone could lose their home. Unfortunately, once a person reaches that point, getting back on their feet becomes extremely difficult without support. Knoxville the same issues that many other cities have. A lack of affordable housing and overcrowded shelters both make it extremely challenging for those struggling to stay afloat. T...

When we were first assigned to support the Volunteer Ministry Center (VMC) in our campaign, I had no idea what to expect. It wasn't until after I started researching them and learning everything they did for people experiencing homelessness in Knoxville that I was able to understand what they did. But after visiting their facility with my group and getting to see what they do firsthand, I felt like I really understood what the VMC was all about. The VMC was a place full of compassionate people that wanted to give those in need the opportunity to rebuild their lives. When I first walked through the front door, I was taken aback by how friendly and welcoming the staff was. They seemed really eager to meet us and get to know a little bit about everybody in the group. We were then taken to a conference style room by Zan, the development and digital media manager at the VMC. That is where he went into more detail about what the VMC does and reinforced the idea that their mission is not ...

When each member of Hearts for Housing registered for English 255, we had no clue what we were getting ourselves into. I can’t speak for the rest of my group, but I’ll admit it, I only signed up for the class to meet a graduation requirement. I expected another typical writing course where my entire grade was based off of a few essays. But when I showed up on the first day, I quickly realized this class was going to be something completely different. Instead of writing lengthy, boring papers for a grade, we have been challenged to use our writing skills for a cause that actually made an impact. That is how our group, Hearts for Housing, began. The five of us were assigned to partner with the Volunteer Ministry Center (VMC) here in Knoxville. The VMC is an organization that works to prevent and end homelessness through permanent housing, case management, dental care, and other essential services. As college students, it is far too easy to get caught up in our own personal lives, where w...