Former West Side Inn residents continue to search for housing following the inn’s closure
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) – On Tuesday, warrants were served to those remaining at the West Side Inn in Kingsport. While many of the former residents relocated before the eviction deadline, they said the process of finding housing wasn’t easy.
Lisa Babb said she and her roommate had lived at the inn for almost a year when the notice of closure came. She and dozens of others faced the possibility of homelessness when they were told to vacate the inn.
“It was kind of hectic because we didn’t have transportation,” said Babb. “Both of us were in bad health.”
Although the short notice to vacate made relocation difficult, Babb and her roommate found a place to stay at Americourt Extended Stays.
“They even said ‘If you want to go in and check the rooms and make sure the room was okay for us,'” Babb said of the Americourt. “If it was, then they was gonna let us stay here. If it wasn’t, they was gonna switch up.”
Shades of Grace Pastor Will Shewey said his church stepped in to help those impacted by the closure. The church serves meals to anyone in need. Shewey said the church serves nearly 180 meals per day, which is 50 more than before the inn’s closure.
While they have provided meals, the church has found it difficult to provide housing to those in need.
“We have some folks who come in often asking us if we have leads concerning housing, and most of them get some kind of check,” said Shewey. “But for limited resources, there just seems to be no housing available.”
While Babb found a place to stay, Shewey said others weren’t as lucky.
“I think some people are surprised to know that there are families who are still living in their vehicles,” said Shewey. “Children that still have no permanent place to call home.”
Shewey said he and his congregation will continue to help those impacted, but finding housing will be a challenge.
“We are willing as a congregation to help sustain some of that if we can find the housing,” Shewey said. “But the important thing is we’re just not able to find anything.”
Babb said she is thankful for her position but feels for those still in need of housing.
“It makes me upset that everybody don’t have the right means to come out and get something.”
Shades of Grace serves meals to anyone in need Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. They are located at 313 E Sullivan Street in Kingsport.
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