Navigating healthcare systems not designed for the instability of homelessness often means care is missed. As a result, health needs go untreated and increasingly lead to preventable emergency care. Untreated health issues become a barrier to stability, making it harder for individuals to move forward.

The Salvation Army seeks to plan and pilot a Community Care Hub to provide consistent, structured healthcare to the homeless. The hub will be located in an existing building on the downtown Knoxville Salvation Army campus, adjacent to the day space where many unsheltered individuals gather. Without a structured approach, this proximity represents a missed opportunity to connect individuals to care at the point where they are most accessible.

Rather than relying on sporadic outreach events, the goal is to establish a consistent place where care can be delivered and coordinated with participating providers, reducing reliance on emergency rooms and easing pressure on overburdened clinics.

Phase I will test how the model functions in practice—generating data on service demand, utilization, staffing needs, and partner roles to inform a sustainable approach. The pilot will also assess how to engage individuals who are not currently accessing care and whether simple, on-site support—helping people understand next steps or connect to services—can improve follow-through. Phase I will result in a tested model, identified partners, and data needed to support long-term implementation.