The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff, Wire Reports

Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 03:55 PM

Knoxville Paper Criticizes Knox Area Rescue Ministries

A Knoxville newspaper that prints the voice of the homeless returned after a one-year hiatus with an issue criticizing Knox Area Rescue Ministries.

"Trying to survive." That's what Homer Mchenry said about the struggle to live on the streets of Knoxville.

After his release from prison, Mchenry spent the last six years on the streets of East Tennessee.

"Trying to do the right thing," he said. "Instead of getting in trouble, I love to work."

He said part of his plan includes using 'The Amplifier' as a platform for the homeless population.

Mchenry said, "And this paper is giving people ideas of how to help."

The paper had a history in Knoxville, went silent for about one year, then released a new issue in September focusing on what the publisher called a lack of shelter for Knoxville's homeless community.

"We're concerned about the city's lack of urgency to provide shelter," Eddie Young, the paper's publisher, said.

'Amplifier' editors specifically took aim at Knox Area Rescue Ministries. Editors said the organization turns away too many homeless people in search of help.

"They don't open their doors to everyone and we want to look at that," Young said. "We want to look at the restrictions and the obligations."

Obligations like having a state-issued ID, Young explains, or restrictions from alcohol problems.

Officials with the private organization said about 400 people are housed in its emergency shelter.

Cynthia Russell, the vice president of Serenity Ministries, said, "If I had a family member who was out of their luck or homeless, there would be no hesitation for them to come to Knox Area Rescue Ministries to receive services."

KARM said they don't allow violence and have an interview process to check for identification to see if anyone is on the sex offender registry.

"Just to make sure people are safe, because we want to keep it an orderly and safe environment for the people we serve," Russell said.