Innovative Idea Addresses Knoxville’s Lack of Affordable Housing

It's a story playing out in communities across America. High demand for affordable housing, but not enough supply. It's forcing many into homelessness, including people who are employed full-time. Last week we introduced you to the Tweedy family living in their car for months in Knoxville, Tennessee. Rent costs there have skyrocketed in recent years. City shelters are now over capacity. In part two of our story from Knoxville, our correspondent Jess Gomez shows us the city's efforts to build more affordable housing and one company's unique plan to fill in the gaps. With dawn barely breaking over a Knoxville truck stop. Guys make sure you put your jackets on. Quenisha Tweedy and her three kids starting their day. Shamiya backpack. They've been living in their car for more than four months now. All right that's it. That's the biggest dream I have right now is being able to put them back in their own beds. Tweedy works seven days a week filling online delivery orders after losing her job as a district manager at a downsizing newspaper company. It's hard to save when you're struggling just to make ends meet as it is. Knoxville, along the Smoky Mountains and home to the fast-growing University of Tennessee, a city in the midst of a housing crisis. The average rent increasing by about $500 a month over the past few years. At the same time, the city's homeless population doubling. Rental increases in the city and the county have been untenable. Aaron Reed is the executive director of the Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability. The city committing $50 million over 10 years to spur affordable housing development. 1,800 units up this year alone. Still, it's not enough. What we need is for government, non-profits, funders, private landlords to jump in and each bring their part of the solution. I would stay back there in the woods in a tent. Jennifer Mason has been homeless for years until she found a place here at Second Creek Studios. So this is the king room. Katie Linkus, president of the non-profit that turned what was a rundown motel into one- and two-bed studios for rent. 80 rooms filled within the first few months of opening. There's a population of people who are very happy in a studio apartment and maybe aren't looking for the three-bed, two-bath home with a yard. Those like Mason can rent the rooms for about $220 a week with no security deposits, credit checks, or long-term leases required. I want to cry because it's really exciting and to know that it's going to be okay. Without help, there's no way I can get rent. Quinisha Tweedy hoping that help comes soon. She's been on the list for public housing assistance for months. Hi, Wendy. Hello, how are you? But today, some unexpected news from her caseworker. A room at Second Creek Studios opening up. This is where we will be staying. For her kids, a surprise after school. Warm beds for now. Yeah, we're happy. It's really rewarding to be able to see people feel safe. I'm a mother. I can't imagine not knowing where we were going to sleep and where we're going to go. Are we going to be warm? Can they get to school? Instead of being able to remove all of that, now they can move forward. Last night, we said goodnight to you. You were in the car. How are you feeling right now? Overwhelmed, but God, I'm so excited and so appreciative. Appreciative for the stroke of luck not afforded to so many others still on the streets. In Knoxville, Tennessee, for Matter of Fact, I'm Jessica Gomez.