Advocates want increased funding for senior services in Knoxville budget
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.
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'We need to set aside money for senior housing, senior transportation and activities here in Knoxville and Knox County,' Shipe said.
One place where it's hoped that need will soon be met, is in the Karns community. Construction on phase three of Willow Place, an affordable housing development for seniors, began last year with a completion date targeted for 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.'
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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.'
Including the O'Connor Center, there are seven senior centers across Knox County. The O'Connor Center works with those other centers to provide the best slate of activities and socialization opportunities for area senior, but at times, that doesn't always seem to be enough due to the areas growing senior population.
'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.'
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A family whose impacts will continue to be felt and according to Shipe, they cannot be overlooked moving forward.
'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 said the average number of participants who utilize the center's programs has risen from nearly 400 to over 700 in the seven months she's been there.
The second reading on the Mayor's budget proposal is set for Tuesday, May 27 with a public hearing happening on Tuesday, May 13.
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