Mr. Bruce Spangler, Executive Director
511 North Broadway
Knoxville, TN 37901
865-524-3926
https://www.vmcinc.org/
Bush Family Refuge
The Volunteer Ministry Center Bush Family Refuge provides crisis response and homeless prevention services for Knox County individuals and families. It is a community contributor to ensuring that Knox County households at risk of losing their housing, due to rental and utility arrearages, can maintain housing and not fall into homelessness. In addition, other supportive services are offered to stabilize a low-income household which include prescription co-pays (for non-narcotic medicines only), Knoxville Transit Authority (KAT) bus passes for employment and doctor’s appointments, birth certificates/state issued identification application payment services, and CHAMP assessments through the community-wide coordinated entry system for homeless services.
Minvilla Manor
Minvilla Manor provides permanent supportive housing to low-income single men and women who were previously chronically homeless. Identified as needing a moderate LEVEL of support to sustain long tenancy, residents are supported by three (3) full-time housing case managers on-site and 24-hour property attendant presence. Permanent supportive housing is evidence-based and a proven best-practice to meet the needs of those struggling with housing stability.
Resource Center
The Resource Center is an evidence-based transitional day program providing case management to assist individuals experiencing homelessness to attain affordable, permanent housing. It provides the additional skills and supportive services required for individuals to maintain housing with a focus on accountability. The Resource Center provides a safe and supportive daytime environment in which clients can access meals, showers, laundry, telephone, computers, and classes on a variety of topics.
The Foyer
The Foyer is a low-barrier overnight emergency shelter for vulnerable and hard-to-reach individuals experiencing homelessness who cannot access the community’s traditional shelters. The Foyer’s end goal is housing; therefore, shelter is paired with access to social services that promote the achievement of permanent housing and improved health outcomes. Aligning a shelter environment with a Housing First approach provides access to shelter without pre-requisites with an entrée into permanent housing options.
“Homeslessness CAN be ended, and we are demonstrating that day in and day out”
Bruce Spangler, CEO