The Hamilton Counted report for the second quarter of 2024 shows a dramatic increase in calls for domestic violence, homicide and the need for emergency food packages compared to previous years, as well as a significant decrease in fatal overdoses.
The report provides the latest statistics and figures on crime, overdoses and food insecurity in Hamilton County between January 1 and June 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2022 and 2023.
Data for East Ridge was not available in 2022, but figures from Chattanooga, Collegedale, Lookout Mountain, Red Bank, Soddy Daisy, and Lakesite and Walden from the past three years were all included.
Domestic violence
According to the Partnership for families, children and adults, Domestic violence hotline calls increased by nearly 35% in 2024. In the first half of 2023, 382 calls were recorded, compared to 513 calls in the first half of 2024.
The number of calls and investigations into sexual assault decreased during the same period.
The partnership began other data collection in July 2022, so data from that year is not available.
The Hamilton County 24/7 crisis hotline is 423-755-2700. You can also reach the crisis text hotline at 423-356-3620.
murder
Also notable in the report is a 20% increase in the murder rate compared to the previous year, from 15 to 18.
Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp said the murder rate in the city of Chattanooga has risen sharply.
“In the first half of 2024, the number of murders increased by nearly 42 percent compared to 2022, while the number of non-fatal shootings in Chattanooga remained stable compared to the previous year,” he said.
Food insecurity
The Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC), sponsored by the USDAprovides additional food assistance and nutrition education to low-income women, infants and children up to the age of five.
The program’s average countywide enrollment increased to 7,735, a 25% growth over the same quarter in 2022.
The Chattanooga Food Bank also distributed 10,727 emergency food packages from the Foxwood Food Center in the first half of 2024, a 76% increase compared to the same period in 2022.
The pantry and food bank service partners with retailers, manufacturers, farmers, purchasing alliances and individual donors to end hunger in the region.
Fatal overdoses
The number of fatal overdoses has decreased by almost 29% compared to the first half of 2022.
According to the report, while fentanyl remains the leading cause of suspected drug-related deaths, it has been slowly declining over the past two years.
The grant program is funded by the state’s Opioid Abatement Settlement. To date, Hamilton County has received approximately $5.4 million from the grant.
There was also a 30 percent decrease in emergency medical services’ use of naloxone (commonly known as Narcan), the life-saving drug used to treat overdoses.
“This data project has forced us to confront the reality that many in our community are being left behind while Hamilton County continues to lead the region in job growth and quality of life,” said Mayor Wamp.
Resources on drug abuse and overdose:
Other crimes
The number of car thefts has increased by 17% compared to the same period last year; this year there were 153 more thefts than last year.
Overall, violent and property crimes such as burglary, serious assault, robbery and rape decreased throughout the district.
Data from the Hamilton County Homeless Health Care Center shows that the number of clinic visits by homeless people so far this year is 10,561.
“Over the long term, Hamilton Counted will demonstrate our improvements, or lack thereof, in key areas. Government too often lacks transparency and accountability, but our goal with this data project is to improve both,” Wamp said.
You can read the full report below.
