Since May 2019, the Tennessee Valley Coalition for the Homeless has given thousands of hot meals and other services to unsheltered homeless adults and children at its Day Center in Campbell County, TN.

The LaFollette Day Center enjoys wide support from the community, but it was forced to close its doors in late February 2020 after the County Commission capitulated to the fears and prejudices of a handful of businesses in downtown who objected to its presence in a downtown building donated by The Harbor, a local church.

The LaFollette Day Center is the first provider of its kind to operate in the Ridge and Valley region of south central Appalachia, where the lack of jobs, affordable housing, and transportation have led to extreme poverty and homelessness. On any given night, nearly 1,000 people have no place to call home; 3 out of 4 of them are don't even have a safe place to sleep at night.

Folks who are fighting for systemic change will encounter resistance at some point, fueled by the irrational belief that serving the homeless only creates more homelessness. In fact, housing assistance with supportive services is the only sustainable path to self-reliance for the homeless, and it is essential for building strong, economically vibrant communities.

We know that many of our neighbors and allies believe in our mission. Every day that the Day Center is closed is a day in which children and adults go hungry and are exposed to cold weather.  Please help by signing our petition today!