KIM TOWNSEND • HOMELESS COORDINATOR, CITY OF HATTIESBURG
Kim began working as Homeless Coordinator with the City of Hattiesburg in February of 2016. She facilitates relationships between the homeless population in our city and the agencies dedicated to meeting their unique needs of housing, healing, and sustainability. In August of 2016, with the help of MUTEH (MS United to End Homelessness) and the Pine Belt Coalition on Homelessness, Kim started a street outreach team: The Hub City Homeless Outreach Team. Under her leadership, the team goes out weekly in order to reach the city’s most chronically homeless.
In this unique position, Kim is able to advocate and mediate problems that arise in the community with the city’s homeless. For instance, in 2016, complaints came into the city about homeless that were living in the wooded area near the Walmart off Hwy 49. Through a partnership with MUTEH and the beginning of the Hub City Homeless Outreach Team, 12 of the 16 residents camping were able to receive housing services before the woods were cleared. Multiple partners within the City of Hattiesburg and the Pine Belt Coalition on Homelessness came together for that particular project.
For over 3 years, Kim worked in homeless outreach while employed with Parkway Heights United Methodist Church and has volunteered over the past 7 years with several agencies in Hattiesburg that work with the homeless population. She serves as co-chair the Pine Belt Coalition on Homelessness and serves on several committees throughout the 71 County, Continuum of Care, Balance of State, that is tasked with functionally ending homelessness in Mississippi.
She has been married to her husband, Chris for 11 years this September and they have been active members of Parkway Heights for the last 7 years. Chris and his law partner run a successful private law practice in Petal, MS, Londeree and Townsend, LLC. Kim has also been a cancer advocate for the last 11 years, raising funds, educating the community, and supporting those with cancer. Kim and her husband have 2 nephews, a niece, and 3 cats they love to spend their extra time with and they love to travel when they are able.
Kim graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, having minors in Sociology, History, and Art.