KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It's no secret home prices have been climbing in Knoxville. The Knoxville Area Association of Realtor's 2022 State of Housing Report said home prices in the Knoxville area are nearly 35% higher than in 2019. That means the typical home is almost $70,000 more expensive than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report said "both home prices and rents growing at some of the fastest rates on record, housing affordability worsened significantly since the pandemic and continued to decline in the early months of 2022"
Renters also saw that explosive increase, according to KAARMLS. In the same year, rent tripled the historic average. These rises have consequences for some long-time locals in Knoxville, especially ones with limited income.
Regina Sergent and Randy Swartz are an example of that. They lived for seven years in an apartment in the area of Bellvue Drive. Like many others in the Knoxville area, their landlord raised their rent.
"The apartment decided to raise the rent to above my paycheck that I get for SSI (Supplemental Security Income), and we could no longer afford it," Regina said.
In addition to her SSI checks, Randy also works as a remodeler for homes. He also does home repairs and handyman work on the side.
The couple explained they rented a U-Haul on June 1, 2022, to temporarily move their belongings to a motel while they searched for a new apartment. The motel was $65 a night. However, the couple said they didn't stay long. Regina had a stroke.
"When I found her on the floor, I thought she was dead," Randy said. "It's just been so rough."
Regina said her SSI checks partially covered the hospital visit and the U-Haul. But, it wasn't enough.
"Trying to take care of her, trying to work and pay for the motel room at the same time was rough," Randy said.
Eventually, they couldn't afford the $65 a night. That's how they ended up at Keenan Grimes Outreach Center.
"We showed up and it was our last hope that night because it had gotten dark and it was like 12 degrees outside," Regina said. "They took us in."
Ira Grimes, the owner of the outreach, said the couple came just in time. He's been at capacity for nearly two months. Grimes said housing situations like this couple's are getting more common.
"Mostly everybody's like normal working people that work jobs and their rent is $1,300 a month, but they're making $13 an hour," Grimes said.
He initially started the outreach to be a welcoming place for people, who may be living on the streets and struggling with addiction. Grimes' concept is to offer those people love, food, a warm bed, and a listening ear. He said he's seen success with people who come through, and are serious about getting clean.
However, there was another side to the outreach Grimes did not expect. He said many people coming through the doors, needing help, are not dealing with substance abuse issues.
"The majority of people that stay with me do not use drugs," Grimes said.
Grimes has people of every age staying at his outreach, from parents with little kids that run around the center to seniors that can't stand anymore.
For people like Regina and Randy, it's a temporary solution until they get back on their feet.
"Just pray. Pray for us to get back into a home that we can be in forever," Regina said.
The couple said they are working with the CAC (The Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee) to get into housing.
Ira operates the center with a budget of just $841 per month. That's why they depend on donations to help them meet their need.
Keenan Grimes Outreach Center is always accepting donations. Anyone can drop off food, clothes, shoes, water, bedding, or personal hygiene products at their building at 2461 Martin Luther King Jr Ave in Knoxville.
For monetary donations, people can give through the Cash App at $IraGrimes56.