In 2021, there were approximately 602 youth in Knoxville-Knox County that were out there on their own, experiencing unstable housing. These youth might be staying on the streets, camping, in emergency shelters, sleeping couch to couch, or soliciting strangers for a place to stay for the night. They often feel alone, dismissed, and with no one to trust.

Together we can help youth thrive. Join the movement to end youth homelessness.

Youth WINS (When In Need of Support) is a program of Knoxville-Knox County CAC established in 2016 that serves approximately 125 unaccompanied youth annually. We work alongside youth ages 18 – 24 to help them meet housing, education, and employment goals.

We are in need of your support! Every dollar you give goes towards expanding our reach and impact. Our youth-lead meetings, classes, and activities build trust, relationships, and pathways to a healthy life and safe harbor.

Help us reach our dream goals:

Enjoy regular peer-to-peer support meetings
Provide a warm meal at every Youth Action meeting
Have an emergency relief fund
Increase outreach, awareness, and advocacy
Offer a stipend for our youth leadership

Ways to get involved: donate, share this page with a friend, recommend a youth, volunteer! Reach out to us to learn more kristine.townsend@knoxcac.org, call 865-546-3500 for assistance or additional information, or visit the CAC Youth WINS Facebook page for updates and more information.

A group photograph of 10 youth and a service dog standing in front of a dry erase board that reads

ABOUT US:
Youth WINS and its Youth Advisory Board Officers provide our local homeless and housing-insecure youth with a voice to address the very unique struggles they have in finding permanent housing.

Our Youth WINS team works diligently to assist youth to find stable housing and connect them to community resources for education, employment, and job training. Some of our clients are still high school students. These services help youth achieve stability and safety as they move on a path to self-sufficiency and a sustainable life style.

CAC Youth WINS has four Youth Advisors who serve youth ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness with case management to include:

Housing
School
Transportation
Job assistance & coaching
Vital documents (IDs, etc)
Seeing a doctor
Sobriety & mental health

Youth WINS sponsors a Youth Action Board (YAB) established in 2017 through the Homeless Youth Council (HYC) and the Knoxville-Knox County Homeless Coalition (KKCHC). YAB educates and advises community leaders on challenges homeless youth face, while creating pathways to eliminate youth homelessness through leadership and empowerment. They meet twice monthly with an average of 15 youth attending each meeting.

The YAB is sponsored by the CAC Youth WINS program and meets twice per month. All members have experienced homelessness, and are comprised of a very diverse membership of youth, including:

High school students
College students
LGBTQIA+
Single parents
Intact young families
Many different cultures, creeds, races, and religions

A photograph of two youth attending the Knox Pride Parade and holding up signs that read

How you can help: donate, share this page with a friend, recommend a youth, volunteer! Reach out to us to learn more kristine.townsend@knoxcac.org, call 865-546-3500 for assistance or additional information, or visit the CAC Youth WINS Facebook page for updates and more information.

Photograph of an orange hat that reads #YOUthCountKnox, photo courtesy of WBIR

*Hat photograph courtesy of WBIR.com*

CAC Youth WINS

Bringing hope and support to end youth homelessness