Homeless man’s death prompts community actions

Joseph Blagg, a Chattanooga area singer-songwriter, works on the chorus to a song he is writing about a homeless man who recently passed away while sleeping outside in the cold. Blagg spent time at Chattamusic's studio on Feb. 27, 2015 a few hundred yards from where the man had died. Joseph Blagg, a Chattanooga area singer-songwriter, works on the chorus to a song he is writing about a homeless man who recently passed away while sleeping outside in the cold. Blagg spent time at Chattamusic's studio on Feb. 27, 2015 a few hundred yards from where the man had died.

By Yolanda Putman March 1, 2015 3 min read

The death of a homeless man who succumbed to hypothermia while sleeping on the ground has moved people across Chattanooga to try and help the city’s homeless population.

Douglas King, 64, died Feb. 17 in the 600 block of East 11th Street while sleeping against a trestle near a railroad track, but local residents say his death was not in vain.

Musicians at Chattamusic are celebrating King’s life by writing a song in his honor and donating some of the proceeds to the homeless. Local minister Michael McClendon slept at the Chattanooga Community Kitchen the night after King’s death and distributed candles to the homeless. And radio hosts have dedicated parts of their broadcasts to programs to end alcohol and drug addiction and encouraging homeless people to use shelters.

“If this man’s death served any purpose, it was to make all of us aware that there are people sleeping outside, under bridges, anywhere they can hole up, and who are very vulnerable,” said Ron Fender, a former Community Kitchen outreach worker who knew King.

Several Chattanoogans took action to help other homeless people after learning of King’s death.