City to Set New Goals, Outline Strategies and Develop Policy Recommendations to Advance Affordable Housing.

Nashville.Gov, reposted July 7, 2024- Metro Nashville’s Housing Division is developing a Unified Housing Strategy (UHS) that will set goals, outline strategies, and provide policy and program recommendation to advance access to affordable, safe, and stable housing for all Nashvillians.

The UHS will build upon other existing and on-going studies, including the 2021 Affordable Housing Task Force report, to provide detailed policy and program recommendations on how to increase housing security. The Housing Division has partnered with HR&A Advisors, Pillars Development, and MEPR Agency to support the development of the UHS.

This summer the Housing Division invites input from stakeholders through the following channels:

Metro Nashville’s Housing Division will be hosting four community listening sessions in late June and July that are open to all residents. Please see below for information about those sessions.

• Unified Housing Strategy Community Listening Session, Monday, June 24, 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at Southeast Community Center (5260 Hickory Hollow Parkway, Suite 202)
• Unified Housing Strategy Community Listening Session, Tuesday, July 9, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Main Library (615 Church Street)
• Unified Housing Strategy Community Listening Session, Thursday, July 11, 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at East Park Regional Community Center (600 Woodland Street)
• Unified Housing Strategy Community Listening Session, Thursday, July 18, 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at Bordeaux Branch Library (4000 Clarksville Pike)

Please contact Randi Semrick at randi.semrick@nashville.gov if you require accommodations, including translation services.

The Housing Division has also partnered with more than a dozen community-based organizations – “UHS Community Ambassadors” – to hold listening sessions with target populations during June and July. Residents interested in joining a session hosted by a UHS Ambassador may contact the organization directly. Please see below for a list of Community Ambassadors and their contact information. (follow link for list)

Rod's Comment: Last summer a proposal was introduced in the Metro Council that would significantly increase housing density and revamp Metro zoning codes. The proposal was known as NEST. The proposal was met with fierce opposition and was withdrawn. While NEST is not mentioned in the above announcement, it is expected that the Unified Housing Strategy will address some of the same issues as was the basis of the NEST proposals.

While many Nashvillians simply place preserving the character of their neighborhood above all other concerns, the problem of urban sprawl and lack of affordable housing must be addressed. If you are interested in the future of Nashville and the issues of housing affordability, you may want to engage in this planning process. 

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