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 [email protected], call 865-546-3500 for assistance or additional information, or visit the CAC Youth WINS Facebook page for updates and more information.

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

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

*Hat photograph courtesy of WBIR.com*