[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6213232,"mediaKeyId","3677246-fc7ac70148573524ff4953d1ae51983d","parentId",3677246,"title","Mayor O’Connell endorses unified housing strategy and urges local partnerships; discusses encampments, vouchers and tenant protections","audioSeconds",3558,"startMs",9443000,"endMs",13001000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3677246-fc7ac70148573524ff4953d1ae51983d&start=9443&end=13001","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3677246-fc7ac70148573524ff4953d1ae51983d/thumbnail_9443000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6213232/Tennessee/Mayor-OConnell-endorses-unified-housing-strategy-and-urges-local-partnerships-discusses-encampments-vouchers-and-tenant-protections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213232-30bf76bad96574b4cd866588779c0e7e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770594456&Signature=d-mFvvFuFVZwKjLUIWCNbu8kdiV~y2sIMel9Wrce0oiX9IQ2cpD3TD9Lx22XUJe1c7itl2N17N-mISTEptSwok~2P3C0u~6dZROIpGJm5S~odfb7uJNFR0-HSk8Qy2CZWuptwUiYvCBzWGl9HFiaUaTSWzT3c7LA5PIGznJnA~7Wdbb6PllDTjxF8piu2Dynr2kQT~p7piEuV~vnMQfU7yFXBOcMM8Rjfb36tmT6caIdMQdp5pq4NP8Vh8~mUz5yPHG~m69rmf1GG46cVw5KSNyJwTLriTD9UhO3o7qbt3S40kywVR1NCFTk2yTpTQLwDjoSa-iTJigIOL9bVSeH0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Nashville, TN","date","2025-06-05T06:02:52Z","article","Mayor Freddie O’Connell participated in a town‑hall style session at the symposium and reiterated the city’s commitment to a unified, decade‑long housing strategy and the need for cross‑sector collaboration.

O’Connell said the Unified Housing Strategy (UHS) provides a ten‑year, benchmarkable framework aimed at producing 90,000 homes across Davidson County and that Metro has proposed its largest single local investment in housing in the mayor’s recommended budget. He described recent deliverables and ribbon cuttings for affordable projects and pointed to Strobel House — Metro’s award‑winning permanent supportive housing building — as an example of operational progress.

On renter protections and enforcement, O’Connell highlighted constraints imposed by Tennessee state law and said that while Metro can expand local programs (he cited the city’s eviction right‑to‑counsel effort), broad statutory renter protections remain a state policy issue. He also addressed encampments: under current Tennessee law, overnight camping on public land is illegal; O’Connell said Metro’s approach is to prioritize outreach, shelter access and safety while acknowledging the limits of local authority.

On vouchers and financing, the mayor echoed other presenters’ concern about federal uncertainty. He said local options and state incentives will be evaluated and that Metro is pursuing multiple tools — including the Barnes Housing Trust Fund, the newly formed Catalyst Fund and partnerships with MDHA (the housing authority). He described the policy challenge: local government cannot, by itself, fully underwrite the capital needed to produce every required unit.

Ending: O’Connell called for continued partnership among providers, landlords, philanthropies and elected officials, and urged symposium participants to remain engaged in implementing the Unified Housing Strategy.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025 State of Homelessness Symposium","oneSentenceSummary","Mayor Freddie O’Connell told the symposium he supports a decade‑long Unified Housing Strategy, eviction right‑to‑counsel and increased local investments, and acknowledged state law constraints on renter protections and camping on public land.","taxTitle","Misc. Metro Meetings and Events, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee","taxId",79649,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6213235,"Community Solutions speaker urges systems approach, buying existing housing and new construction methods to scale housing",2501,5956000,8457000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3677246-fc7ac70148573524ff4953d1ae51983d&start=5956&end=8457","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3677246-fc7ac70148573524ff4953d1ae51983d/thumbnail_5956000.jpg","/articles/6213235/Tennessee/Community-Solutions-speaker-urges-systems-approach-buying-existing-housing-and-new-construction-methods-to-scale-housing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213235-04e4613855bc8ba0ad59dff0b14c6ab0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770594456&Signature=j~OnJOl09pL8GsnYZbLy006RWoD2pq1AAIALyalsEsk7SoZ4KaP2r0ntAErU1yV92f7TI14OMmul1Luu77QdwMBz-zvpbG4BElD~nFsBwyh4wy2rZ3ro6uNPBOpRNvLlSDBXfKUkFOxb07dhVzpspL8tKobJ6QjJGIbWfyoNqOSXs6YxTFpitVLNSogaZggpneb6zZWvid9w0CW3A~FN5Rg0kd-Cq7aW3r8FrJ0WimXs0wz7smYBEK~zepHeqyTVjiwR2oMnmME2mU6n7-CjPAEoCH3UnubGH3hg3ifDhfq2ODLAEp15b1gGNExYFbhOZckUiLyBgrG1bJ4SOCiWjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Roseanne Haggerty, president and CEO of Community Solutions, told the symposium that cities that have sustained reductions in homelessness combine three elements: a joined, accountable operating system; a rapid increase in housing supply across multiple housing types; and broad public narratives that homelessness can be made rare and brief.

Haggerty described the Built for Zero operating system used by more than 180 communities and summarized the approach as an accountable team that treats homelessness as a shared outcome, real‑time by‑name data to track inflow and outflow, and willingness to pivot when measures show stalled progress.

On housing supply, Haggerty highlighted two practical strategies several cities have used to accelerate housing availability: buying existing market units and converting underused institutional properties (for example dormant dormitories), and rapid modular or prefabricated construction where speed and cost control matter. She said her organization and partners have raised private capital to acquire existing market apartments and preserve them as permanently affordable units; she cited acquisition of more than 1,300 units across 14 projects in seven cities as an example.

Haggerty described the Melody project in Atlanta — a rapid, modular micro‑unit initiative built on city‑owned land — as an example of a fast build that paired philanthropic and city capital to produce units quickly. She also emphasized the need to map and inventory public land and institutional properties as a precondition to fast deployment.

Ending: Haggerty urged Nashville to use real‑time data, increase housing types and make successful efforts more visible to the public so civic leaders and private partners will support sustained reductions in homelessness.","Roseanne Haggerty of Community Solutions described the Built for Zero operating system, urged real‑time data coordination, and outlined strategies including acquiring existing market units and rapid modular builds (the Melody project) to expand affordable and supportive housing.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6213239,"Housing First expert urges prioritization, local vouchers and rapid response line at Nashville symposium",1571,2194000,3765000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3677246-fc7ac70148573524ff4953d1ae51983d&start=2194&end=3765","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3677246-fc7ac70148573524ff4953d1ae51983d/thumbnail_2194000.jpg","/articles/6213239/Tennessee/Housing-First-expert-urges-prioritization-local-vouchers-and-rapid-response-line-at-Nashville-symposium","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213239-a7177e5ad53ac6a03678ff5919bbef07/orig.mp4?Expires=1770594456&Signature=KX65Yx2khO37eIjed2bN0n8TnSruPxFHxBysEmL1gNIeNqI6Wj51t1AZ8i1LWe2eW954HW~kMbQEPk83lnD5UGRooT7RIoDXCrpm2OGeRBlVKjFCKt7NjI0cyr4l0i6YWmWhUjsI0sDCKJFZjBCP3zkkkmGIQFWGTcUBx6Zg0qDfht3JOT-e4kRncrnm6NY6uJJ2bLOFt2wV~Z1YbcHpcPJEO7XWi8JNgsjQ0ccI~PgdfFrsoPuPVWHeBDmRtr2s-8BmrwhOo2bfyGA8WVB65Guh9FrueE~6zhVQ0m0CQvfKURG64RqfHUaR633thHAchjkgbpaFJHRLSDZxVNvpZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Sam Sembares, clinical community psychologist and CEO of the Pathways Housing First Institute, told the Nashville symposium that Housing First principles — rapid access to housing combined with support services — should guide local strategy and that communities must prioritize the most vulnerable.

Sembares opened with a broader political framing and then offered a four‑step plan: prioritize people in the most acute need (those whose survival is at immediate risk), expand consensus across sectors so police, health systems, courts, hospitals, businesses and faith organizations act from a common “compass,” use measurable goals and shared data to track progress, and secure the resources required for scale.

Sembares said a localized approach is necessary when federal support is uncertain. He urged Nashville to consider creating municipal or state‑level housing vouchers if federal vouchers are constrained. “What other cities and other states have done is they have created their own local housing voucher,” he said, citing examples including Washington, D.C., and some jurisdictions in Georgia and North Carolina where local vouchers were raised through dedicated local revenue sources.

On outreach and responsiveness, Sembares recommended a centralized rapid‑response number and teams that can deploy the same day. “We need a number where people can call and get a response to, a referral about a homeless person. Not that we'll see you Tuesday, but someone from the business community is calling this morning. Someone needs to be there by noon. It needs to be, not as a 9‑1‑1, but as a 7‑1‑1,” he said.

Sembares also addressed landlord engagement, urging indemnity, signing bonuses and housing specialists who manage landlord relationships alongside rent vouchers. He acknowledged limits: for people with severe cognitive or medical needs, supervised living or nursing home placements may be more appropriate than scattered‑site apartments.

Ending: Sembares told attendees that cities that set measurable priorities, broaden the stakeholder table and pair housing with services have achieved sustained reductions in homelessness; he urged Nashville to adopt the same focus.","Dr. Sam Sembares, a Housing First proponent, told symposium attendees to prioritize the most vulnerable, build community‑wide Housing First consensus, set measurable goals, and consider local vouchers and a rapid‑response helpline to speed placements.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6213244,"Nashville presents HUD system performance measures: HMIS data shows income gains and stable shelter trends",313,1100000,1413000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3677246-fc7ac70148573524ff4953d1ae51983d&start=1100&end=1413","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3677246-fc7ac70148573524ff4953d1ae51983d/thumbnail_1100000.jpg","/articles/6213244/Tennessee/Nashville-presents-HUD-system-performance-measures-HMIS-data-shows-income-gains-and-stable-shelter-trends","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213244-11cc4cf625743f077798e0de02f4175c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770594456&Signature=czeFBbi9AyK7B-gq4ffo39YQxllEWyslNsrdjxh1uUNXGj3ABS0-ZqzOu~YPKYDJ028fbDjO7FCjEhE35lA4Ih2PRaHmfRgPj~6rK78j-NOOCDTq3gXypf6OKoqmb8RDKlNQKnTZtupVo5aVsPob52WnmL7mTvqPnuufkkCFRVyXfHe0FAEvvz0SRQWyld5q6U8dAl~YaEISa-xexkB0dh73sYjCgS0~Bk-OKN3noluWOLPAo4m3rRAIEsZiJmUOgCONXzc2pN1~i9xI0xJBpj3YoCiDX4TCO6rmZuxHri6bXmOj4aoPYgiplZ~OwfDV5QALHFwR6xn8EkWj0f9ovg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Megan Vickers, who presented homelessness system data for the symposium, reviewed Metro Nashville’s HUD system performance measures drawn from the local HMIS (Homeless Management Information System).

Vickers told the audience these measures reflect a specific reporting window (February to February) and only include projects funded through the Continuum of Care (CoC). She emphasized that HMIS data underpin performance scores used in federal CoC funding decisions and urged participating agencies to keep records current.

Key numbers presented by Vickers included median lengths of homelessness for people in system projects: about 59 days for people in emergency shelter or safe haven beds; 96 days for those in emergency shelter, safe haven or transitional housing; and 1,038 days when counting emergency shelter, safe haven, transitional and permanent housing placements in the measure she displayed. She also highlighted Measure 4: 44% of people who stayed in CoC‑funded projects increased income during the reporting period, and 22% of leavers recorded income growth. Measure 5 counted 2,651 people classified as experiencing homelessness for the first time in HMIS during the reporting period, a figure Vickers noted can reflect absence of interaction in HMIS over the prior two years rather than true life‑time first‑time homelessness.

Vickers cautioned that the point‑in‑time (PIT) count is a single‑night snapshot and that HMIS additions — including a new data bridge with Nashville Rescue Mission and more participating agencies (about 47 agencies) — have improved coverage in recent years. She said Measure 7 (successful placements into permanent housing) was roughly 45%, and housing retention for those placed in permanent housing was shown at about 96% in the report Vickers reviewed.

Ending: Vickers invited agencies to consult HMIS helpdesk staff for questions and repeated that accurate HMIS reporting matters because system performance measures can affect up to 40% of CoC funding scores.","Metro presenters shared HUD system performance measures drawn from local HMIS data, reporting income gains for people served, retention rates for permanent housing, and caveats about point‑in‑time counts and data coverage.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6213249,"Metro Nashville directs $50 million ARPA package to housing, gap financing and services for people experiencing homelessness",342,1586000,1928000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3677246-fc7ac70148573524ff4953d1ae51983d&start=1586&end=1928","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3677246-fc7ac70148573524ff4953d1ae51983d/thumbnail_1586000.jpg","/articles/6213249/Tennessee/Metro-Nashville-directs-50-million-ARPA-package-to-housing-gap-financing-and-services-for-people-experiencing-homelessness","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213249-b7e26a3d282b84f04a7dfeed7b275e58/orig.mp4?Expires=1770594456&Signature=FWXV1mmD7mUXJVUzoKts~q7JI-bwe2kTJYSAOkTwnN2DqlVqUvL6lvsr5cyOfsN0KxHqisu79qmM56zh~MFKD75sTB0lDmWDpg9nCG827X~QKNLvF~ofhyDDHBLVD~4NjYUx1C2GsxSbCpbSvt3oAgglMaJSaSK~m0cK2cq1~RcPSyXv2ISsPNwQ-OQhCxYA0lziKlLTln5KXDS5GJu4L7KZPvgC4chMO29tljoaYoNoWIp2nZyRyF9eYESb6ahHX5IN92U1x2nkRS4c58cgMwXZF2xjFHXRV0nScIMySRdGSODujDeWR57seOVoU3BZkDPuKyVUln~7NdalChKKUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Metro Nashville’s Office of Homeless Services announced a $50,000,000 one‑time funding package to address homelessness that city officials said is already fully allocated to housing and support services.

The announcement came from Joseph Marsh, assistant director of Metro’s Office of Homeless Services, who said the funds “represent a chance to reset systems, create pathways to permanent housing, and address the gaps that have long left too many of our neighbors un‑housed.” Marsh told the symposium the package is largely ARPA money and described how it has been earmarked.

Marsh provided the allocation breakdown: $25,000,000 for gap financing to unlock stalled affordable and supportive housing developments; $9,000,000 for interim gap housing (enhanced shelter, surge housing and other short‑term options); $9,000,000 for housing support services (case management, behavioral health, workforce services); and $7,000,000 for low‑barrier grants and capacity building for frontline providers. He said the funds are intended both to accelerate construction and to support the wrap‑around services that keep people housed.

Marsh said the money has been committed but not fully spent and stressed the deadline. “As of today, all the funds have been allocated, but the spending is not yet complete,” he said, adding that Metro has “one year remaining to invest our ARPA funds” and that the deadline for use is July 2026.

April Calvin, director of the Office of Homeless Services, framed the funding in the context of recent local operations. She told attendees that a 60‑day operation known as Anthy’s Drive moved 107 people into temporary, shared or permanent housing and that Metro’s cold‑weather shelter operated for an unprecedented 46 nights this year. Calvin also highlighted a 45% decrease in the number of people dying while experiencing homelessness compared with a prior period and said those improvements reflect coordinated work among providers and city departments.

Calvin and Marsh also discussed capacity constraints in the local housing market. Calvin said the Low Barrier Housing Collective has expanded the number of properties taking placements and estimated an average of roughly 700 vacant units exist across the collective — a figure she used to explain why ongoing rent assistance and subsidy would be necessary to match people to existing units. Marsh and Calvin both emphasized that housing supply and subsidy must go together: capital to build or acquire units, and operational funding and services to keep people housed.

Marsh said the package has already reached 1,899 unique individuals through programs tied to these investments and that Metro is developing a strategic spend‑down plan to get the money out the door effectively and transparently.

Ending: City officials said the funds are a one‑time opportunity that must be paired with ongoing operational support and broader community investment. Metro officials urged providers, developers, landlords and philanthropic partners to move quickly to convert committed dollars into occupied units and services before the July 2026 deadline.","Metro’s Office of Homeless Services outlined a $50 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) investment to accelerate housing development, interim shelter and supportive services; officials said funds are committed and must be spent by July 2026.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mayor O’Connell endorses unified housing strategy and urges local partnerships; discusses encampments, vouchers and tenant protections

Community Solutions speaker urges systems approach, buying existing housing and new construction methods to scale housing

Housing First expert urges prioritization, local vouchers and rapid response line at Nashville symposium

Nashville presents HUD system performance measures: HMIS data shows income gains and stable shelter trends

Metro Nashville directs $50 million ARPA package to housing, gap financing and services for people experiencing homelessness