GREENE COUNTY, Tenn. — Recent reports from the Coalition Addressing the Needs of Unhoused People (CANUP) and the Appalachian Regional Coalition on Homelessness (ARCH) highlight a concerning trend: homelessness in the area has surged threefold since 2023.

Data reveal a significant rise in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness, jumping from 26 in 2023 to 87 in 2025.

Tasked by ARCH, the nonprofit CANUP is actively working to address this crisis. The organization offers vital support to unhoused individuals, including food baskets, hygiene products, mental health services, clothing, and temporary shelter, all aimed at providing a comprehensive “continuum of care.”

Lori Grabner, the Board Vice Chair for CANUP, shared insights with News Channel 11, identifying several factors contributing to the increase in homelessness. While substance abuse, age, and disability have long been issues, she noted that skyrocketing rent prices are now a major driving force.

“We’re witnessing a substantial rise,” Grabner explained. “Families are striving to cover rent, but their incomes simply aren’t keeping pace. With rent nearly doubling over the past five years and salaries stagnating, maintaining housing has become incredibly challenging for many.”

In light of these challenges, Nicholas Law, Executive Director of the Greeneville Housing Authority, reported a growing reliance on government-assisted housing. The authority is receiving a steady stream of applications on a daily basis, as more individuals seek affordable housing solutions.

“We’ve seen an influx in homelessness in this area,” Law told News Channel 11. “We receive about eight to 10 applications a week and I would say three to four of those are people who are homeless looking for homes.”

Michael Hartsell, board chair of CANUP, said their approach is through collaboration with others to reduce the unhoused on the streets.

“We begin to build a plan for them,” Hartsell said. “We get them their proper documents, we work a system of things that include public housing, private landlords, subsidized housing. We get them connected to the next series of providers who can help them get housing.”

CANUP is in partnership with 17 churches and community members to rent out motels and split homes into temporary housing for the homeless. In partnership, the organization has helped 20 people off the streets this year.

“Things like police intervention, ER visits, hospitals — that’s a lot of money we could be turning into housing, coordinated housing,” Grabner said. “We need to help get them the services because it all begins with housing and then we can work on what’s needed to make them successful.”

CANUP intends to expand the nonprofit organization with efforts to buy out housing for unhoused people. They plan to partner with local churches and Asbury University in the winter months to provide basic services and temporary housing until permanent housing can be met.

For more information or to donate to CANUP, click here.