FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
KARM’s Mission: Restoring lives in Jesus’ name
Frequently Asked KARM Questions
Thank you for your interest in KARM. Below are the answers to many frequently asked questions about our ministry.
What is the mission of KARM?
When was KARM established?
What services does KARM offer?
How many meals does KARM serve each day?
How many people stay at KARM daily?
Nearly 400 people stay at KARM each night. Our various housing options are listed below:
Samaritan’s Place – Emergency overnight shelter for 200+ men.
Hope Haven – Emergency overnight shelter for 103 single women.
Serenity – Residential addiction recovery program for up to 32 women. Serenity also provides housing for female graduates of the LaunchPoint program who are working their life plan to end their homelessness. (The residential recovery program for men is currently on pause while being revamped to provide greater services.)
Berea – a co-ed residential program where students learn to live within a healthy community, offers bed space for up to 44 students.
What steps do you take to insure the safety of guests, volunteers and staff?
How is KARM funded?
How can I become a volunteer for KARM?
Homelessness in Knox County
Thank you for your interest in Knox County homelessness. Below is additional information about this important local topic.
Who are the homeless?
The percentage of the homeless population suffering from some form of mental illness or emotional problem is estimated to be 50%.
Currently, about 75% of the homeless are male and about 25% are female.
Approximately 40% of the homeless in Knox County are part of a family unit, and approximately 15% of the homeless are under the age of 18. This group is the fastest growing segment of the homeless population in our community.
Of the children aging out of foster care, one-fourth will be homeless within one year.
How can you help the homeless situation in Knox County?
Become informed. Learn about the homeless and their challenges. Volunteer your time or donate resources to local non-profit agencies serving the homeless, hungry and at-risk population.
Get involved in regional planning efforts that support and strengthen the system of care for Knox County’s homeless.
Network with other individuals, non-profit agencies, businesses, county agencies, and cities to share ideas and best practices on how to most effectively deal with the homeless situation in Knox County.
Understand that the affordable housing issues affect all of us and that your voice is needed to ensure that every member of our community has access to decent and affordable housing.
What is being done to ensure a brighter future for homeless in Knox County?
How does Knoxville’s homelessness situation compare to the rest of the country?
Knoxville participates in an annual Snapshot Survey by the CityGate Network regarding homelessness in North America. For more information on survey results, contact:
For more information about homelessness in Knox County, read the annual report on homelessness conducted by KnoxHMIS.
National Homelessness
Thank you for your interest in homelessness in our country. Below is additional information about this important national topic.
How many people are homeless in the United States?
Why do people become homeless?
Lagging incomes: incomes from the poorest Americans have not kept pace with rising housing and medical costs. A missed paycheck, a health crisis, or an unpaid bill can push families over the edge into homelessness. Many people become homeless despite having a full-time job.
Cuts in services and government assistance: public funding for assistance services of all types continues to decrease nationally. Over 40% of homeless persons are eligible for disability benefits but only 11% actually receive them. Most families are eligible for welfare benefits but only 52% of them receive them.
Domestic violence: a woman and her children leaving an abusive relationship may have no resources independent from the batterer. With small children and minimal job experience, many women find it difficult to support an independent and safe life in the community.
Veterans make up 26% of the homeless on any given day. Veterans Affairs and Census Bureau reports show that 194,254 veterans are homeless every night and more than 11% of the newly homeless veterans are women.
What are the impacts of homelessness on children?
Could you recommend other websites for more information?
Housing and Urban Development –
US Dept. of Veterans Affairs –
National Coalition for the Homeless –