Latest news with #OfficeofHomelessServices
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Metro Nashville intends to award up to 25 pallet shelters to community partners
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Metro Nashville plans to distribute pallet shelters for use as temporary housing to community partners. On Wednesday, the Mayor's Office published a request for proposals from community partners and intends to distribute up to 25 pallet shelter units to community-based organizations. Those pallet shelters can then be used as temporary housing and are meant to offer safe, private spaces for people who cannot easily access group shelters. MARCH | VIDEO: Federal funding cuts put housing pods plan in jeopardy According to the request for proposals, the pallet shelters are equipped with beds, LED lighting and locking doors as well as key safety features like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. These pallet shelters have a history. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nashville purchased housing pods for those who needed homes. In 2023, Metro Councilmember Erin Evans passed a resolution calling for the pods to be used as transitional housing. The state ultimately granted Nashville permission last October. 'Eliminating the barriers to use our pallet shelters as a temporary housing option has been a collaborative effort across many Metro stakeholders including Metro Department of Public Health, Office of Homeless Services, Office of Emergency Management and Metro Codes,' Evans said. 'I appreciate Mayor O'Connell's support in offering these shelters to community organizations with this [request for proposals].' In February, Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell announced that two people who had been working on the plan were laid off due to federal funding cuts. Despite that announcement, the Mayor's Office officially opened the call for proposals this week. 'These shelters are temporary housing solutions for our most vulnerable neighbors who need to be housed and connected with supportive services,' O'Connell said. 'I'm grateful for the work of the working group that has facilitated the repurposing of these shelters from infectious disease aids to temporary emergency housing options.' OCTOBER 2024 | State approves for COVID-19 response pods to be used as transitional housing in Nashville Metro is seeking proposals from nonprofits and other community partners that can make sure the pallet shelters are properly installed and maintained as well as partners who can help provide residents with services like toilet and shower facilities. Also included in the scope of work is the coordination of on-site support services and reporting shelter use information. 'We are eager to deploy the pallet shelters,' April Calvin, Director of the Office of Homeless Services, said. 'It's going to take all creative solutions to address the need.' According to the request for proposals, a concept paper is due by June 4 and the full proposal is due by noon on June 20. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nashville has a housing crisis. Shutting down homeless encampments worsens it.
While it may look like progress to shut down a large homeless encampment, these closures fail to address the underlying causes of Nashville's housing crisis. On March 31, dozens of residents at Old Tent City were handed 60-day eviction notices, signed by the Office of Homeless Services (OHS) and Mayor Freddie O'Connell, stoking fear and anxiety. Without places like Old Tent City, people without housing don't just disappear. They end up in costly emergency rooms and jails, and they spread out in residential and commercial areas that are difficult for outreach workers to reach. Connecting a camp's current residents with resources and moving them into what will largely be transitional housing provides relief and life-changing opportunities for those experiencing homelessness today, but it does nothing for the people who will need a place to land tomorrow. "We'll never end homelessness until we stop the flow of people entering into it," says Dr. Beth Shinn, researcher at Vanderbilt. In February of 2025, 1,106 evictions were filed in Nashville. Across Tennessee, we lack over 3,500 year-round shelter beds for those who need them and 121,000 units of housing for extremely low income renters. 'Closing this camp is a temporary Band-Aid they're thinking is gonna solve things but it ain't,' says 'Mama V,' a resident of Old Tent City. 'Where are people gonna go?' If we take a closer look at homelessness, the real problem isn't the tents. It's the housing crisis. It's the dire lack of low income housing, abysmal tenant protections, low wages, and the failure to address decades of federal disinvestment in housing and safety nets. I was first introduced to Old Tent City in 2008 when the number of residents had ballooned to over 100 during the Great Recession. The camp itself, however, has existed since the early 1980s. The 1980s marked the beginning of mass homelessness in America − a direct result of the Reagan administration's decision to gut funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by 78%, cut food stamps and Medicaid, and dismantle social safety nets and programs. Opinion: We four diverse Tennesseans unite behind the goal of ending divisive politics We are standing on the precipice of the second wave of mass homelessness in America. Trump's administration has proposed 50% cuts to HUD which would devastate already underfunded housing programs and homeless services across the nation. Vital programs are already being slashed and Medicaid and Social Security are at risk. It is irresponsible to close Old Tent City without opening other low-barrier sites. While this camp is far from perfect, it plays a role in downtown and the broader community that we must recognize. Nashville's shelters are over capacity and it takes an average of over 150 days to obtain housing through the Coordinated Entry System. 'We see all the new people coming through,' says Mama V. 'Campsites are being bulldozed everywhere. Where are people going? They come here!' Instead of using taxpayer dollars to clearcut and fence off public spaces, we need leaders like Mayor O'Connell, OHS Director April Calvin, and City Council members to bolster the resources that already exist and ensure that everyone in our city has a place to get back on their feet. Nashville doesn't need a new $70 million park where Old Tent City currently stands. We need housing and wrap around services. We need to invest in systems and supports that reduce the number of people who are hitting the streets. When we address the underlying issues that cause homelessness in the first place, everyone benefits. And when we have enough housing and resources for all, encampments will shrink and close on their own. Rev. Lindsey Krinks is co-founder of Open Table Nashville, a homeless outreach and advocacy nonprofit, and Housing for All Tennessee, a statewide coalition on housing, homelessness, and tenants' rights. She is the author of "Praying with Our Feet: Pursuing Justice and Healing on the Streets." This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Homeless encampments provide shelter during a housing crisis | Opinion
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Help Nashville's homeless youth find safe shelter and stay off the streets
Nashville's skyline may be booming, but for many young people, the view is far less hopeful. Behind the bright lights and rapid development, many struggle to find stability, facing challenges that often go unnoticed by the rest of the city. Without support systems in place, circumstances like family rejection, the loss of foster care assistance, or financial hardship can leave them with no place to turn. As a result, many end up without secure housing, facing overwhelming odds – from exposure to violence to severe mental health struggles. According to Nashville's Office of Homeless Services, 10,874 individuals experienced homelessness in Nashville over the past 12 months, nearly 1,000 of whom were between the ages of 18 and 24. LGBTQ+ youth and those exiting foster care are particularly vulnerable, often lacking affirming housing or family support. Without secure shelter, these young people face heightened risks of violence, mental health challenges, and long-term instability. Addressing youth homelessness is a community-wide challenge, made more urgent by recent policy changes. In 2024, the Supreme Court's ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson upheld the right of cities to penalize individuals for sleeping in public spaces, further endangering those without stable housing. In Tennessee, the Equal Access to Public Property Act of 2012 already made sleeping or camping on state-owned property a class E felony – punishable by up to six years in prison and a $3,000 fine. In 2022, legislators extended this law to all public property. By criminalizing survival on the streets, these measures force the unhoused – especially vulnerable youth – into hidden or unsafe situations, increasing their risk of violence, exploitation, and chronic homelessness. While city resources and traditional adult shelters are not always equipped to meet the unique needs of youth, local initiatives are stepping in to help. One such effort is LAUNCH PAD, a volunteer-driven organization, providing emergency shelter and transitional housing for young adults. Established in 2014, LAUNCH PAD has worked on creating a safe, inclusive environment filling critical gaps in support services for youth at risk of being overlooked. Executive Director H.G. Stovall and his team at LAUNCH PAD offer three core programs tailored to different levels of need. Its Emergency Shelter runs from November through March, providing meals, overnight accommodations, and hygiene facilities. The Mobile Housing Navigation Center supported by Metro funding offers short-term stays coupled with help connecting to long-term housing options and case management. Finally, the Independent-Supported Living Program ensures a more stable environment where young adults can focus on employment, education, and eventually securing permanent housing. Yet even with these resources, the demand for youth-specific housing and support continues to outpace supply. A lasting solution must go beyond a bed for the night and address broader needs like education, employment, and mental health care. Without a comprehensive approach to solving youth homelessness, cities like Nashville will likely be unable to get a handle on chronic homelessness long term. Volunteer: Whether you're assisting at shelters or mentoring youth as they transition into stability, every hour of your time makes a difference. Donate: Financial contributions and essential supplies—such as clothing, toiletries, and nonperishable food—help sustain organizations that serve unhoused youth. Advocate: Reach out to local officials and attend public meetings to push for policy changes and increased funding for youth-focused services. Support initiatives that expand affordable housing and mental health resources in your community. Youth homelessness is about more than just finding a bed for the night; it's about ensuring all young people have a pathway to stability and success. By investing in youth, Nashville invests in its future – and that begins with making sure no young person is left without a safe place to call home. Authors: Austin Hilvert, MD/MBA Student, Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Zachary Scharlau, MBA Student, Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management. Melissa Ortiz-Feliciano, MBA Student, Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management. Ananya Sarkar, MBA Student, Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Homelessness in Nashville affects young people harshly | Opinion
