KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - For the third year, warming shelters in the Knoxville area are gearing up to accept people in need as temperatures tumble in East Tennessee.

The Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability and Homeless Coalition partner to get the shelters up and running. This year, the groups plan to operate shelters, with help from nonprofit and faith-based groups, from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28, 2026. The shelters will open on nights when temperatures fall to 25 degrees or colder.

Last winter, more than 400 people needed shelter from the cold. According to the two groups, that number is expected to drop slightly thanks to new programs and housing efforts in the area. That said, the Office of Housing Stability’s Point-in Time Count Report for 2025 paints a picture of East Tennes

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