CAC Social Services walks alongside clients to provide case management and care services including finding housing, neighborhood resources, employment, higher education, academic tutoring, and mentorship. We work alongside clients to help them set personal goals to meet their needs and advocate to eliminate barriers in their path to success.
Services Include:
Applicants must meet income and other eligibility requirements for all of these services.
We are located in the Ross Building, 2247 Western Avenue
Office: (865) 544‐5200 | Fax: (865) 637‐9146
Eviction Prevention Program
EVICTION PREVENTION
Knox Housing Assistance will accept applications from the 15th-30th of every month from individuals who are in need of eviction prevention assistance. More information about this program and the application can be found at knoxhousingassistance.org.
I AM BEING EVICTED. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
First, make sure your landlord knows that you have applied for assistance through this program. If you have a scheduled court date, it is very important that you are present for the proceedings. Court personnel are working with tenants facing eviction, but you must be present on your appointed court date to avoid a default judgment.
Homeward Bound
Individuals, families, and unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness are provided supportive services and case management so they can obtain or retain housing and achieve stability. Services include housing placement, education and employment assistance, advocacy, and connection to resources.
Families in Need
This HUD-funded case management program offers re-housing services to families with children who live in shelters, streets, hotels paid for by charitable organizations, cars or other places not meant for human habitation.
REACH
HUD-funded street outreach and case management assists the chronically homeless living in camps, vehicles, and under bridges to access emergency shelters and/or safe housing.
Elizabeth’s Home
This HUD-funded re-housing program offers financial support and case management to families who live in shelters, streets, hotels paid for by charitable organizations, cars or other places not meant for human habitation for up to 24 months as they transition from homelessness to permanent housing.
Youth WINS
Unaccompanied youth ages l8-24 (including those in high school) who struggle with housing insecurities or homelessness are provided outreach and comprehensive guidance to help them access housing, education and job resources. YAB sponsor.
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Youth Advisory Board (YAB)
Empowering youth through leadership and engagement, YAB members advise community leaders on the diverse challenges homeless youth face and impact community change.
Learn More >
Project LIVE
Living Independently through Volunteer Efforts
Individuals age 60 years and older who are low-income are assisted in securing and maintaining housing through case management. Case management begins with an in-home assessment that identifies the senior’s strengths and the needs they have that keep them from being fully independent.
After an assessment, the case manager creates goals with the senior and recommends a plan. The “care plan” defines the tasks of the case manager and those of the senior receiving care. The case manager, working alongside the senior and any family members he or she may have, assists the client in accessing community services.
Project LIVE also has limited assistance to pay for minor home repairs or safety modifications that are needed.
The program welcomes volunteers (individuals or groups) when possible to perform minor home repairs, house cleaning and decluttering, yard clean up and maintenance, and similar tasks. Volunteers can work flexible schedules, including weeknights and weekends.
Please call (865) 524-2786 for referrals to Project LIVE or for more information.
Follow Along with Us
Neighborhood Centers
Located in East, South and West Knoxville neighborhoods, individuals and families are helped to achieve and maintain stability through connection to community resources. The Centers host multiple community group meetings and offer educational, employment, and other financial assistance options. All Centers are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am – 4:45 pm.
South Center:
Calls Only; No Walk-ins at this time
522 Maryville Pike
Knoxville, TN 37920
Phone: (865) 577‐7591
Fax : (865) 609‐7035
Workforce Development
Workforce Development offers a variety of programs designed to assist all job seekers and to help employers to meet their hiring needs.
Workforce Development
Job seekers interested in assistance from Workforce Development are encouraged to attend our weekly orientation each Monday from 1‐2pm.
Re-Connections
Re-Connections helps justice-involved individuals seek employment and community resources in order to re-integrate into the community.
Ticket to Work
Disability beneficiaries who wish to reenter the workforce are connected to employment. Located at American Job Center.
Additional Services
Access to Benefits (A2B)
A2B takes any referral from a CAC case manager whether or not they are homeless or in danger of being homeless. The referral must have a serious mental illness, medical impairment and/or co-occurring substance abuse disorder. The referrals come from the Neighborhood Centers, Grandparents as Parents, VITA and Office on Aging.
Phone: (865) 544‐5200
Fax: (865) 637‐9146
Families Together Academy
Facilitates free, family-oriented, on-site and/or virtual classes that vary monthly, and include Knox County court-approved certification classes, such as Anger Management and Parenting.
Resilient Families
Offers a whole-family, two-generational approach where we assist adults with children to move from crisis to stability and long-term, financial self-sufficiency by offering comprehensive assistance addressing employment, education, childcare, transportation, and more.
Tutoring and Mentoring
Offers tutoring for K-6th Graders in Mathematics and English Language Arts at the East Neighborhood Center. Classes meet on-site.
Access To Benefits
The Access To Benefits program (A2B) utilizes the SOAR ( SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) method to increase access to the disability income benefit programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) for eligible adults and children who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and have a serious mental illness, medical impairment, and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder. Referrals for this program are only accepted from CAC Case Management staff on participants that are enrolled in one of our Social Service Programs.
Families Together Academy (FTA)
FTA is the educational component of CAC’s 2Gen programming, Resilient Families. FTA adds new programming for the entire family based on their expressed needs. FTA meets the family where they are through targeted family assessments to gauge current situation, motivation, and progress. FTA is able to accomplish progress by establishing bridges between multiple CAC programs and blending and braiding services to provide integrated, comprehensive services.
Current locations for FTA:
- CAC Ross Building
- Fig Tree Day Center, Cokesbury United Methodist Church
- Helen Ross McNabb “Project NOW”
- Knoxville Day Reporting Center, Dept. of Corrections
- Knoxville School District
- Northgate Terrace
- Pond Gap Flats
- St. James Episcopal Church
- Southside Flats
- Western Heights Community Center
FTA videos can also be mailed to those who are interested.
Resilient Families
Resilient Families is a long term case management program that seeks to support and empower low-income families in obtaining increased income, education, health and well-being, self-sufficiency, and social capital. Our goal is to create pathways for families to transition out of poverty. We continue to be accessible to our clients for support as their incomes increase and provide resources so that they know additional support is available in the community.
Family and Program Goals
Our program seeks to increase:
Income
We provide employability assistance and help with applying for eligible benefit programs so families can increase their income. Financial literacy courses are provided to help parents understand their budget, debt, and promote savings.
Education opportunities for parents
For parents who are interested in continuing their education, assistance is provided for applying and completing high school equivalency and post secondary programs.
Education performance for students
Educational supports are provided to help students increase school performance engagement. We provide support to parents so they can be more involved in their children ’s education.
Health and Well-Being for all family members
Community referrals are provided to help families address their nutritional, mental health, and physical health needs.
Social Capital for the family
Workshops are offered to increase parenting supports and increase family cohesion. Referrals for community supports and resources are made as needed to help families connect to other organizations, support groups, and programs for ongoing assistance.
Interested in Our Program?
- Is your client interested in long term case management?
- Do they have children under the age of 18 years old in their household?
- Are they low income?
- Is your client looking for support to increase their income, education for their children, family health and well-being, and community and family supports?
Student Parent Advisors (SPAs)
Steps to Success
Steps to Success receives referrals from higher education such as Pellissippi State Community College and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology. CAC then refers clients on to other programs and services as identified in each person’s goal plan. The wide array of resources have been a tremendous asset for the students served by the program, as they were offered opportunities that ranged from covering tuition costs, paying rent and utility deposits, or offering financial support for smaller items such as textbooks, uniforms, and school supplies.
“The financial aid that I received allowed me to accomplish my goal of becoming a college graduate and it has also allowed me the ability to have stability for my future.”
Youth When In Need Succeed (WINS)
Unaccompanied youth ages 18-24 (including those in high school) who struggle with housing insecurities or homelessness are provided outreach and comprehensive guidance to help them access housing, education, and job resources.
Brianna Hanson, Program Manager
brianna.hanson@knoxcac.org
Office Phone: (865) 546-3500
Mobile Phone: (865) 661-7498
Fax: (865) 637‐9146
Youth Action Board (YAB)
Empowering youth through leadership and engagement, YAB members advise community leaders on the diverse challenges homeless youth face and impact community change. The YAB is part of the Knoxville-Knox County Homelessness Coalition (KKCHC). The YAB meets twice a month at the Ross Building located at 2247 Western Avenue on Thursdays from 5:00 to 7:00PM. Life skills classes are from 5:00 to 6:00PM and the full meeting is from 6:00 to 7:00PM.
Officers:
Chair: Jasper McEwan
Co-Chair: Coyote Dunbar
Co-Chair: Jinx McEwan
Secretary: Dakori Zimillio
Treasurer:
Phone: (865) 556-2359
Email: youthactionboard1@gmail.com
Re-Connections
Re‐Connections helps justice‐involved individuals obtain employment and community
resources and assists in community reintegration.
Re-Connections assists justice-involved individuals to obtain and maintain employment by helping them overcome barriers to employment resulting from a record of arrest or conviction. Services include career assessments, information on training opportunities and adult education, employability workshops on topics including on-line applications, resume writing, and interview skills as well as job referrals. The program will also provide referrals to community resources that will help re-integrate them into the community and achieve self-sufficiency.
If you are interested in assistance from Re-Connections, you are encouraged to attend our weekly orientation each Monday from 1-2pm at the Ross Building to learn more about our services and to determine your eligibility. If you have any questions, you can call (865) 524-3345 or fax (865) 637‐3376.
Workforce Development
Workforce Development provides a comprehensive set of employment services tailored to the needs of jobs seekers.
Workforce Development works with job seekers to maximize their ability to compete in the current labor market and find employment opportunities. Employment specialists will develop a service plan to determine the most effective strategies to assist job seekers. Services include career assessments, information on training opportunities and adult education, employability workshops on topics including on-line applications, resume writing, and interview skills as well as job referrals. Participants that obtain employment may be eligible for support services such as transportation assistance, work clothing and safety equipment to help with a successful transition into the workplace.
Job seekers interested in assistance from Workforce Development are encouraged to attend our weekly orientation each Monday from 1-2pm at the Ross Building to learn more about our services. For additional assistance, please call (865) 524-3345.
Ticket to Work
Ticket to Work provides access to free employment support services for Social Security Disability beneficiaries who want to work.
The Ticket to Work Program supports career development for people ages 18-64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) and want to work. The program is a great fit for people who want to improve their earning potential and are committed to preparing for long-term success in the workforce. The program, in partnership with the American Job Center, provides employment services to help you achieve your employment goals and increase your financial independence. Services include career counseling, vocational rehabilitation, job placement assistance and training.
If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits due to your disability and are between the ages of 18 and 64, you are eligible to participate in the Ticket to Work program. If you want to learn more about the program, please call the Disability Resource Coordinator at (865) 594-6930.
Fax: (865) 594‐2767
CONNECT 3E
Connecting Employees to Employers and the Economy
Connect 3E provides employees transportation to local jobs using CAC Transit. Employers that have identified employee lack of transportation as a barrier to recruitment may be able to connect employees to an existing Transit route or a newly established one.
Emergency Solutions Grant
This federal grant helps CAC to better serve unsheltered clients. Assistance regularly includes payment of housing deposits, first month’s rent, utility deposits, and other supportive services.
Transforming Western
CAC has partnered with the Knoxville-Community Development Corporation to serve as the “People Lead” for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Choice Neighborhood Grant. In October 2022, HUD announced the Western Heights Neighborhood as one of four communities chosen nationally to receive federal funding. The initiative focuses on the neighborhood, housing, and people.
CAC serves as the People Lead and is organizing partnerships to drive change and improved services for residents living in the community. As the People Lead, CAC will work to empower and support the residents of Western Heights as they strive to improve their education, health, youth opportunities, economic stability, and food security. Specifically, we will provide case management and community programming. For the full plan, you can visit: https://www.engagetheteam.com/western
Lisa.Higginbotham@knoxcac.org
You can also check out our calendar and current events on Facebook.
Our Impact
From July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023