Chattanooga halts plan to shelter homeless in East Ridge lodge

The city of Chattanooga is being put on hold his plan to shelter members of the growing homeless population in an East Ridge hotel after first discussing the initiative with East Ridge Mayor Brian Williams on Thursday – two days after the Chattanooga City Council voted unanimously to move the plan forward.

“We contacted the City of East Ridge, who share our understanding that homelessness is a regional problem that requires a regional approach,” said Richel Albright, former communications director for the city of Chattanooga, in a written statement. “We fully understand their concerns and pause while we work with them to find the best possible solution.”

At the meeting of East Ridge City Council on Friday afternoon, postponed from Thursday evening due to severe weather, Williams said he had a positive discussion with Chattanooga officials on Thursday.

“We will find the best possible solution because we know that this is a sensible and urgent need that exists in our community, in our entire region,” he said.

If that solution involves housing people in East Ridge, it should include an interlocal arrangement, Williams said.

East Ridge city manager Chris Dorsey said he met with Chattanooga city’s special projects manager, Tyler Yount, on Friday to discuss the situation. He said Yount told him the city was considering renting rooms at a Chattanooga hotel that had put the city on the second lowest bid. Offers were requested from hotels to offer shelter to the homeless in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The $ 400,000 the city plans to spend on renting the rooms would be reimbursed through a Federal Emergency Management Agency program.

Recently released data from the Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition showed a Hamilton County’s unprotected people increased more than 80% from 201 in 2020 to 364 in 2021.

Contact Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6508.