EAST
EAST TENNESSEE. THIS IS TEN NEWS SIX4@. >> WE SEE THEIR FACES.
TONIGHT WE HEAR SOME OF4@ THEIR
STORIES.
TENNIS REPORTER ALEX MEYERS
SPOKE4@ LIVING ON OUR STREETS >.
HOMELESSNESS IN KNOXVILLE.
IT'S NOT A NEW PROBLEM BUT IT'S
A PROBLEM4@.
IT AFFECTS FAR TOO MANY IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
BETWEEN APRIL AND SEPTEMBER4@,
MORE THAN ELEVEN HUNDRED PEOPLE
WERE CONSIDERED NEWLY AT RISK
OF BECOMING HOMELESS.
WE SPOKE TO THREE MEMBERS OF
THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY HERE IN
KNOXVILLE.
THIS IS THEIR STORY.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.
DID NOT4@4@ NIGHTBEAT SLEEP IN A
PARK RANGER FOR 20 YEARS.
I WAS MARRIED FOR 50 YEARS.
I KIDNAPE4@D4@ HAS BEEN CHEATED
PARK RANGER FOR 20 YEARS. I WAS MARRIED FOR 50 YEARS. I KIDNAPE4@D4@ HAS BEEN CHEATEDN
ME AND I'M THOMAS4@.
MY CHOICE.
I'VE BEEN HOME.
I'LL4@4@ KNOW ALL MY LIFE4@ I ED
UP SPENDING 17 MONTHS IN PRISON
AND JUST HAVEN'T4@ BEEN
NEIGHBORHOOD.
NOBODY'S EVER GIVEN ME A CHANCE@
SINCE I'VE GOTTEN OUT AND NOT
JUST STRUGGLING TO GET UP ON MY
FEET.
>> WHILE THERE ARE MANY THINGS
THAT THOSE WITHOUT HOMES COULD
ASK FOR.
ONE OF THE HIGHEST ON THEIR
WISH LIST IS COMPLETELY FREE.
IT'S SOMETHING EACH AND EVERY
ONE OF US COULD GIVE.
IT'S RESPECT AND WE HEARD.
NOW WHEN WE CALL WE.4@
AND NOW ON THAT WE GET THROWN
INTO THE4@ BEFOR4@E THE GAME IS
DEAD.
4@DESZ WAY WE HEAR ABOUT GIGGY
CREEK4@.
PLEASE GIVE ME.
IS A DOG OR CAT SOMEWHERE4@ ITS
SIZE IN A VERY DIFFERENT SPACE
.
STANBURRY4@ WHY NOT.4@
BECAUSE HEARD SOME MY SAYING
YOUR VOSOT ME IF YOU'RE SORRY
FOR SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T LIKE
EATING I KEEP I DON'T THINK I'M
A VICTIM.
AND PEOPLE OUT HERE DON'T THINK
THEY'RE A VICTIM.
THEY JUST HAD A DEAL TO PAY.
I SEE PEOPLE4@4@ WHO ARE JUDGE
@ I CAN BEGIN WITH I4@ THREE.
SO >> WHY CAN'T THEY GET BACK
ON THEIR FEET.
IT'S A COMMON QUESTION BUT IT'S
NOT AS SIMPLE4@ AS IT SEEMS FROM
THE OUTSIDE LOOKING I4@N FROM
ACCESS TO MUCH4@ NEEDED
PRESCRIPTIONS TO ONLINE JOB
APPLICATIONS OR EVEN
TRANSPORTATION4@.
OFTEN IT'S THE RESOURCES OR
LACK THEREOF THAT BECOMES ONE
OF4@ THE BIGGEST PROHIBITORS >>
COMPUTER PHONE CAR.
YEAH.
STUFF LIKE THAT4@ WE JUST DON'T
HAVE ACCESS TO.
SO4@ HOW CAN WE HELP?
GIVING FOOD IS HELPFUL.
BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE, CHURCHES
AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO THAT
ALREADY.
THINGS WE MIGHT NOT THINK OF
ARE OFTEN THE THINGS NEEDED THE
MOST.
EVERY STITCH CLOTHING I'VE GOT
DIRTY.
I NEED YOU MY LAUNDRY MY PHONE
BILL NEEDS4@ PAY.
I NEED MORE THAN JUST YOU KNOW
,JUST NO REAL HELP EVEN LIVING
JUST FEET AWAY FROM RAILROAD4@
TRACKS.
A SPIRIT OF HOPE AND
APPRECIATION FROM THE THINGS
ONE DOES4@ HAVE IS HUMBLING VERY
NIGHTBEAT FLAG A4@ I'D SAY THE
GUY THAT THANK YOU4@ ON MY KNEES
.
HI.
. HI.
. HI. HI.
HI. HI.
HI. HI. NOTHING TO COMPLAIN4@.
>> SO THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE OUT
AND COME ACROSS SOMEONE WHO MAY@
BE LESS FORTUNATE.
REMEMBER AS YOU MAKE EYE
CONTACT THAT WHAT4@ THEY NEED
MIGHT NOT BE THE SPARE CHANGE
THAT YOU'RE CARRYING INSTEAD4@ T
MAY BE A SMILE, A LISTENING EAR
OR EVEN JUST TO SIMPLY BE4@
RESPECTED >> GUY MADE WITH THE
GIFTS OF RABAI4@4@ WHAT WE DO WH
DID WHY WE ACTED TO GOD.
REMEMBER WHAT YOU LOVE IS THAT
ONE COMMON THEME APPEARED WITH
ALL WHO I SPOKE4@ WITH.
THEY SAY WE SHOULD BE SLOWER TO
RUSH TO JUDGMENT AND