Advocates Push for More Funding for Senior Services in Knoxville Budget
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — As we await the second review of Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon’s suggested financial plan , some in the community are calling for ana amendment addressing the need for senior housing and additional programming amid the growing population.
Last week at the City Council meeting, Vivian Shipe from the nonprofit organization "I Am the Voice of the Voiceless" addressed the council members to inquire about their plans regarding increased senior housing options and programs throughout the city.
"We must allocate funds for senior housing, senior transportation, and activities in both Knoxville and Knox County," Shipe stated.
A location where this hope may soon become reality is within the Karns community. The construction of phase three at Willow Place, which offers affordable homes for senior citizens, commenced last year and aims to finish by 2026.
“Our seniors are very active and they’re living longer,” Shipe added.
Shipe said census data projects Knoxville’s senior population will rise 25% by 2030 and the city needs to start planning for the future.
“When you’re talking about seniors who are in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s that are dancing, they’re having activities at places like the O’Connor Center,” Shipe explained. “They are having speakers, they’re travelling, there’s a set that’s active. Then lets talk about the ones that maybe has health problems so we have to be prepared for that also.”
The John T. O’Connor Center has a variety of activities for those seniors who can make the trip to Winona Street in Knoxville helping make sure those seniors who may not have family close by can still socialize within the community.
“It’s very important, especially with what we learned through the pandemic is when people are isolated, their physical and mental health decline,” Program Director at the John T. O’Connor Senior Center Mary Sibbett said. “The J. T. O’Connor Center is a location for them to come and socialize, make friendships, build lifelong friendships, to build new friendships and to engage in different things that are fun for them.”
There are seven senior centers throughout Knox County, including the O'Connor Center. This center collaborates with others to offer a wide range of activities and social events for local seniors; however, these efforts sometimes fall short because of the increasing number of older adults in the region.
One of the requests I often get from our participants or members is, 'Mary, we need to include an additional tier so we can accommodate more classes,'" explained Sibbett. "Many of our sessions are fully booked to the extent that we sometimes have to tell people, 'Sorry, could you join us at tomorrow’s session instead? There isn't room for you today. These slots are crucial for those individuals, and we feel incredibly lucky to be part of the CAC community.'
A family with influences that will keep being noticed, as Shipe points out, and these effects shouldn’t be dismissed going ahead.
“I believe that it’s going to be very important, not only for this budget and if not this budget, in budgets to come,” Shipe said.
Sibbett mentioned that since she started working at the center seven months ago, the average number of people participating in their programs has increased from around 400 to more than 700.
The second reading of the Mayor's budget proposal is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27, preceded by a public hearing on Tuesday, May 13.
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