This is probably the best idea I've heard yet to assist the good peeps of Tent City, and credit must definitely be given to both Jeannie and Doug for their amazing perseverance and dedication in assisting the camp.
There is no doubt the city would like to see Tent City closed, but the fact of the matter is that if we can't provide housing, jobs/income to those living there in order for them to get out, it's pretty difficult to close one of the only places offering respite, food, and shelter to people on the street who refuse to use the local Rescue Mission.
Offers of improvement have been on the table for at least two years now by faith based groups and caring individuals. They have repeatedly been stymied by almost unbending adherence to rules and regulations pertaining to the land inside the inner freeway loop. This is really a shame when one considers the price many must then pay for that rigidity.
Jeannie, Doug, and a host of other good and caring people have made life so much more bearable for the folks at not just Tent City, but at the 70-80 homeless camps spread around our fair city. If it wasn't for their generosity, care, resources and assistance, I can assure you we would have seen far more suffering and death in the homeless community this year.
Church volunteers want to get a taste of Nashville's Tent City
Churches make site improvements at homeless camp
Local churches hope to construct more homes like this one under the I-40 bridge in Tent City, but they will need approval before making any improvements on the homeless camp property. (JOHN PARTIPILO / THE TENNESSEAN)
Gene "Pops" Powell keeps warm in his mini home that was built by a local church. Powell has lived in the structure for three months. (JOHN PARTIPILO / THE TENNESSEAN)
Mark Libby of Christ Presbyterian Church makes platforms so homeless people can get their tents off the ground and keep rats out. (JOHN PARTIPILO / THE TENNESSEAN)
Jeannie Alexander believes that being a Christian means getting your hands dirty. She thinks that Christians should get out and live their faith by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and visiting people in prison — or maybe even moving into Tent City.
That's what Alexander and other local church volunteers hope to do in the next few weeks.
Recently, local churches began making improvements at Tent City, the homeless encampment on the riverbank near downtown, putting in gravel and asking Metro officials to trim bushes. Now church volunteers want to put up small temporary structures and live at the camp to better serve residents.
"It's not Mr. Rogers' neighborhood, but there's a real opportunity to build community,'' Alexander said.
Clifton Harris, director of the Metropolitan Nashville Homelessness Commission, said that volunteers need approval before making any improvements on the Tent City property, which is owned by Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Harris plans on meeting next week with Alexander and other regular volunteers like Doug Sanders from Otter Creek Church.
"They are supposed to present a site plan for review the next time we meet," he said.
Harris also said that the commission is still looking for an alternate site for the Tent City camp, now under the Interstate 40 bridges over the Cumberland River. The current site is not tenable, he said.
"Tent City will be closed," Harris said. "We are moving to that end. But there's no immediate time line."
A night at Tent City
Volunteers hope to have Bible studies, counsel residents and get a better handle on the obstacles that keep residents from moving out. They also believe that living at the camp will help them build friendships with residents.They would stay in the camp one night a week, on a rotating basis, so that a volunteer would be at Tent City every night.
The idea for building the temporary structures for volunteers was inspired by a mini-cabin built by several churches for Gene "Pops" Powell, who has lived at Tent City for about three months.
