The newly shaped event will provide a one-stop shop for services
A coalition of community partners is gearing up for an event that promises to unite several organizations in an extraordinary show of support for those in need.
On Oct. 9, 2023, from 4-8 p.m., Nashville’s War Memorial Plaza will transform into the site of the very first HOPEfest, a holistic health and wellness resource street fair. This endeavor is a joint effort by The Contributor and People Loving Nashville, with support from the Tennessee Valley Authority Community Partnership.
With recent estimates showing that over 2,000 individuals in Nashville are currently grappling with homelessness, and many still enduring the harsh reality of sleeping outside in encampments, the need for comprehensive assistance has never been more urgent.
Homelessness is more than just a lack of shelter: It is a public health crisis that affects the mental and physical well-being of those without safe, affordable and stable housing. Extensive research has established the undeniable link between homelessness and poor health outcomes, and that interventions like one-stop shops can identify the most acute issues people on the streets are facing. Notably, individuals experiencing homelessness tend to rely on inpatient services and emergency departments at significantly higher rates compared to their housed counterparts. For instance, incidents requiring emergency medical services (EMS) for the homeless population in 2018 occurred at a rate of 1,155 per 1,000 homeless residents, a staggering 14 times the rate for housed residents.
As part of the broader effort to make homelessness rare and brief, local groups are attempting to work at exploring how local health departments and health systems can strategically participate in a comprehensive system design. It begins by coming together.
This approach significantly enhances access to services and effectively addresses the barriers preventing people experiencing homelessness from engaging in services and receiving proper care. Drawing from various communities within the community’s rich network, events like HOPEFest offer a more integrated approach.
Living on the streets or within crowded homeless shelters is an incredibly stressful experience, further exacerbated by exposure to communicable diseases, violence, malnutrition and harsh weather conditions. Managing chronic health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and asthma becomes even more challenging due to the absence of a safe and stable environment for medication storage.
People experiencing homelessness face immense structural barriers when seeking resources as well: these obstacles include a lack of health insurance, financial constraints, and limited transportation options. This event offers free transportation from anywhere in the Middle Tennessee area. The struggle for survival, securing food, shelter and employment often takes precedence over health concerns or legal issues. Moreover, distrust of the systems, as well as negative past experiences like stigmatization and discrimination from providers, can deter individuals experiencing homelessness from seeking care.
Cathy Jennings, the executive director of The Contributor, knows that Nashville is capable of building the kind of network that makes homelessness rare and brief. She hopes this event brings providers together to provide necessary support.
“We are thrilled to bring HOPEfest to life in Nashville,” Jennings said. “It embodies our city’s spirit of compassion and unity. It’s about more than just services; it’s about restoring dignity, hope and opportunity to our homeless neighbors. By joining hands as a community, we can truly make a significant impact on the lives of those in need.”
Jennings underscored the importance of community involvement in making HOPEfest 2023 a success.
“The success of HOPEfest depends on our community’s involvement,’ she said. “We invite local businesses, organizations, and individuals to join us in this endeavor. Whether through sponsorship, volunteering, or simply spreading the word, every contribution counts. Together, we can create lasting change and offer a much-needed touchpoint for those who need it most.”
In addition to HOPEfest, The Contributor will be celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Where To Turn In Nashville Guide at the event. This guide has been a vital resource for individuals experiencing homelessness, providing essential information on available services and support throughout Nashville. In the next year, The Contributor hopes to expand the effort into a more robust website and community outreach network.
“This guide has been a lifeline for those experiencing homelessness, directing them to vital services,” said Linda Bailey, co-editor of The Contributor and creator of the guide. “Looking ahead, we aspire to make it even more impactful for the community, ensuring folks can find the services they need when they need them.”
HOPEfest 2023 will provide numerous resources, ranging from healthcare, education, and legal assistance to housing support, veteran resources, employment services, haircuts, hygiene services, clothing, supplies, education, identification, bus passes, veterinary care, pro bono legal consultation, Naloxone distribution, and even DNA testing to help reconnect families.
In addition to these resources, partners will host workshops and seminars that cover a wide range of topics, including SNAP/food stamps, health insurance, WIC, Naloxone training, and the journey from the streets to independent housing.
“We will offer more than resources; we offer knowledge and empowerment,” Jennings said. “Our workshops and seminars, spanning topics from SNAP/food stamps and health insurance to WIC and Naloxone training, illuminate the path to self-sufficiency. They are also about educating people in the community who may not be struggling so that they are better and more equipped to step in and help their neighbors.”
As a one-stop shop approach, organizations hope to build relationships in the community to provide further support beyond the event itself.
“This event isn’t just a moment in time to get services,” Jennings said. “It’s the beginning of sustained support and compassion for our neighbors facing poverty and homelessness.”
The significance of HOPEfest 2023 lies not only in its aim to provide immediate resources and support to those in need, but also in its recognition of homelessness as a complex public health issue. By bringing together the community, local health departments, and healthcare providers, this event seeks to bridge the gap and make critical healthcare services more accessible for Nashville’s homeless population.”
Often organizations have a direction they specialize in “and run in that direction full speed,” says Ryan Lampa of People Loving Nashville. “The needs of our community far outreach the resources we have, and that will cause us to keep our heads down in our work. Events like this will give us a chance to ‘look up.’ Be encouraged to see others are in the work as well, see how they are in the work, and most of all see how our community that is in need will find the ways to tie our specialties and strengths together. … I definitely see that the environment we are aiming to provide will be a place of hope for our community.”
Lampa also sees the event as a catalyst for empowerment of the community desiring support.
“We pray this is an evening of hope and tangible next steps. We hope to see the dignity of our community be revealed and energy in healthy directions. People Loving Nashville has been serving the streets of Nashville every Monday for 15 years at this very spot.. we have never missed a Monday. Continuing this tradition of relief, community and connection to resources with increasing our reach of collaboration excites me and our partner orgs to bring us together and join forces for increased impact.”
The event is the first of what the partner organizations hope will be many.
“H0PEfest 2023 is a testament to the resilience, compassion, and strength of the Nashville community,” Jennings said. “Together, we can make a significant impact on the lives of our homeless neighbors, being in community with them with a renewed sense of hope.”