KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) – As we await
the second reading of Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon’s proposed budget
, some in the community are calling for ana amendment addressing the need for senior housing and additional programming amid the growing population.
Vivian Shipe from the nonprofit organization I am the Voice of the Voiceless spoke during the City Council meeting last week to see if the council would address that need for more senior housing and programming across the city.
“We need to allocate funds for senior housing, senior transportation, and activities here in Knoxville and Knox County,” Shipe stated.
A location where this hope is particularly strong is within the Karns community. Phase three of Willow Place, which aims to provide affordable housing for senior citizens, commenced construction last year and is scheduled to finish by 2026.
“Not only are our seniors highly active, but they’re also living longer lives,” Shipe mentioned additionally.
Shipe mentioned that according to census information, the number of seniors in Knoxville is expected to increase by 25% by 2030, and consequently, the city should begin preparing for this demographic shift.
“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 crucial, particularly given what we’ve discovered during the pandemic: isolation leads to deterioration in both physical and mental well-being,” said Mary Sibbett, Program Director at the John T. O’Connor Senior Center. “The J.T. O’Connor Center serves as a hub where individuals can gather, interact socially, forge lasting bonds, create new relationships, and participate in enjoyable activities.
There are seven senior centers throughout Knox County, including the O’Connor Center. This center collaborates with others to offer an extensive range of activities and social events for local seniors; however, these efforts sometimes fall short because of the increasing number of older residents in the region.
“One of the things our participants or members ask me is, ‘Mary, we need to add that second level so we can have more classes,’” Sibbett said. “Some of our classes are full to the point where we would have to say ‘sorry, can you come to tomorrow’s class? We can’t fit you in today. This is a very critical place for those [individuals] to come and we are very very fortunate to be a part of the CAC family.”
A family with influences set to persist into the future, as stated by Shipe, should not be disregarded going ahead.
“I think it will be extremely crucial, not just for this budget but for future ones as well,” Shipe stated.
Sibbet mentioned that the average number of individuals participating in the center’s programs has increased from around 400 to more than 700 during her seven-month tenure at the facility.
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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