KNOXVILLE — Minvilla Manor, Knoxville’s first permanent supportive housing development operated by the Volunteer Ministry Center, marked its 15th anniversary in May. The 57-unit facility serves individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, many of whom also face mental or physical health challenges.

The Volunteer Ministry Center works to prevent and end homelessness through housing assistance, case management, and permanent supportive housing programs. It follows a “Housing First” model, which prioritizes providing stable housing before addressing other issues such as employment or health treatment.

Minvilla Manor was originally built in 1913 as middle-class row houses and later operated as the Fifth Avenue Motel before falling into disrepair. Historic preservation funding helped transform the property into permanent supportive housing at a cost of approximately $7.3 million, with coordination among city, county, state, and federal partners.

According to Volunteer Ministry Center CEO Tracey Williams, less than half of Knoxville renters are affordably housed, and “the rest of those renters have been priced out of the market.” She added that the organization’s goal is not to manage homelessness through temporary services, but to end it permanently: “At VMC our mission is to prevent or end homelessness. We don’t want to manage it by way of soup kitchens or shelters or temporary services. We want to make an impact permanently.”

Williams noted that residents in permanent supportive housing typically remain housed at a rate of about 95% to 96%, and some who moved into Minvilla Manor when it opened still live there today. The organization also operates Caswell Manor, a 48-unit supportive housing site, and both developments typically remain at or near capacity. The Volunteer Ministry Center hopes to secure additional funding to renovate Minvilla Manor again, with work potentially beginning next year.