On February 27, Nashville’s Metropolitan Council took a significant step forward in addressing the city’s affordable housing crisis during an educational session led by the Metro Planning’s Housing Division. Hosted by Vice Mayor Angie Henderson and Planning and Zoning Chair Jennifer Gamble, the session aimed to equip council members with the latest updates and strategies to tackle housing affordability issues in Nashville.
The Affordable Housing “201” Educational Session, held at the historic Courthouse and City Hall, saw Housing Division Director Angela Hubbard outline the current state of housing affordability in Nashville. Hubbard and her team discussed various projects, programs, and initiatives currently underway or in the planning stages, all designed to meet the ambitious goals set by the 2021 Affordable Housing Task Force.
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This session comes at a critical time, as the Metro Council sees a turnover of at least 50% of its members every four years. Vice Mayor Henderson emphasized the importance of such educational initiatives, especially for new council members who are tasked with navigating complex policy areas like affordable housing. The establishment of the Housing Division within the Nashville Planning Department in January 2022 marked a significant milestone in the city’s efforts to increase the supply of affordable housing. Since its inception, the division has seen a threefold increase in staff and has introduced several key tools and policies aimed at addressing Nashville’s housing needs. These include the Mixed Income PILOT, Catalyst Fund, and Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP).
Director Hubbard expressed her team’s eagerness to share their work and accomplishments in ensuring housing security for all residents of Nashville. Both Vice Mayor Henderson and Chair Gamble expressed their gratitude for the Housing Division’s efforts and highlighted the importance of the division’s work in addressing the city’s affordable housing challenges.
The session also featured the unveiling of a new dashboard, designed to provide the Council and the community with accessible and comprehensive data on affordable housing initiatives. This tool, along with other resources, is expected to play a crucial role in the ongoing efforts to enhance housing affordability in Nashville.
For those interested in learning more about Nashville’s affordable housing efforts and to view recordings of the educational session, the Metro Council Resources website offers a wealth of information. The Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County continues to demonstrate its commitment to tackling one of the city’s most pressing issues, with the hope of making Nashville a more inclusive and affordable place to live.
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