TORCH Tennessee Outreach Center for Homeless

TORCH opened its doors in January 2013 as the only comprehensive homeless service provider in Anderson County, TN. Because there is no shelter in the county, TORCH focuses on helping individuals and families secure safe, stable, and affordable housing as quickly as possible. Once a permanent address is established, and if a client qualifies, additional short-term financial support may be provided through our “Shelter in the Future Home” plan. This approach offers a more cost-effective and sustainable path toward long-term stability and self-sufficiency. Securing a permanent address is the foundation on which future success is built. TORCH has based its programs and methods on the depth of each client’s needs, understanding that the path to stability looks different for every individual and family. By providing support tailored to each client’s circumstances, TORCH helps ensure that every person has the resources and guidance needed to achieve long-term self-sufficiency.

OUR PROGRAMS:

GAPS: Gathering Assistance to Provide Service - This program was created with the realization that many times simple things such as access to $12 for a photo ID for clients becomes a large barrier. This program operates with DONATIONS only. This program works collectively with other agencies to meet unmet needs of clients—that left unmet would inhibit the client’s progress toward self-sufficiency.

TORCH Help Line and Coordinated Entry - A centralized helpline where individuals in crisis can call to be assessed by trained staff, who determine eligibility for TORCH services or connect them with the most appropriate partner agency. This ensures that people experiencing or at risk of homelessness are guided into the correct support system quickly and efficiently.

Street Out-Reach - Our outreach team directly engages with individuals living unsheltered, providing essential supplies and pathways to housing and supportive services. The goal is to build trust and help people transition from the streets into stable housing.

Rapid Recovery Response -  A specialized program that supports individuals experiencing both homelessness and substance use challenges. The case manager works quickly to connect people with appropriate drug and alcohol treatment programs, helping them stabilize and begin their recovery.

Rapid Rehousing - A program that helps individuals and families move from homelessness into permanent housing as quickly as possible. TORCH provides support and ongoing case management to help ensure long-term stability.

Bookheart Village and Agape House - Non-communal shelters that provide families experiencing homelessness with a safe place to stay while they await long-term housing. These programs offer supportive services to help families stabilize and transition successfully into permanent housing.

Winter Shelter Efforts - Seasonal emergency shelter services provided during extreme cold weather, ensuring individuals experiencing homelessness have a warm, safe place to stay. TORCH partners with local churches to provide and coordinate this shelter.