TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - Community advocates, social workers, health care providers, and real estate professionals gathered Wednesday for the first meeting of the East Texas Shared Housing Network, an initiative organized to address the shortage of affordable housing across the region.

JDE Housing Solutions CEO Jessilyn Edwards organized the inaugural gathering at Oak Street Health in Tyler to bring together local organizations and bridge gaps among disconnected community services."There's a very big need. It's really overwhelming," Edwards said.

"As soon as I started or opened, it's just a flood of people reaching out, and so just trying to find a way to connect the other housing providers in the area so that we can have that network to refer people and put a face to a name."The event drew approximately 20 to 25 attendees from across East Texas to establish referral networks for low-income residents, seniors, and individuals reentering the community from the criminal justice system.