Nashville officials say $50 million homelessness package allocated; city reports full use of MDHA vouchers

April Calvin, director of Metro Nashville’s Office of Homeless Services, told the Nashville-Davidson County Homelessness Planning Council on Feb. 13 that a $50 million homelessness package has been fully allocated and is expected to carry the city’s shelter and housing work through mid-2026.

Calvin said about half of the package flowed to supportive services and interim gap housing while the other half went toward permanent supportive housing and permanent housing with supportive services. She also reported that local housing vouchers administered by the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) have been used to capacity.

The funding matters because it underpins operations and placements through the next budget cycle. Calvin said the allocation will allow the city to continue supporting interim and permanent housing projects but flagged the limits of voucher-based placements. “For the first time ever, we have helped to utilize MDHA’s voucher subsidies to the max of their ability,” Calvin said.

Calvin named specific developments funded through the gap-financing pool: she said one developer, Clear Blue Company, is bringing on 238 units overall and has dedicated 10 units to people experiencing homelessness; another developer is bringing additional units focused on youth (Calvin said the city exceeded an earlier target of 20 units and is bringing more than originally anticipated). Calvin said the $25 million gap-loan portion that targeted permanent supportive housing was expected to bring a smaller number of dedicated units but that the community exceeded that target (she characterized totals as exceeding the originally planned dedicated-unit goal).

Calvin said Metro officials are preparing budget requests to support operating costs for permanent supportive housing and nontraditional rapid rehousing dollars, and that staff are planning a learning visit with Austin, Texas officials and developers to review how Austin added about 1,200 units of permanent supportive housing in one year. She described those outreach and “braiding” conversations as part of the city’s budget-season strategy.

Calvin also noted the Family Unification Program (FUP) vouchers reached full utilization in Nashville after underuse for years; she said MDHA had issued an RFP to secure more vouchers following the local over-utilization.

The council heard requests that the OHS budget proposals include operating supports as well as capital and gap financing. Calvin said the department is preparing those items for the mayor’s and council’s consideration.

Looking ahead, Calvin asked the council to expect proposals during the budget season that would fund operating costs for newly created permanent supportive housing and for nontraditional rapid rehousing options.

Sources and provenance: April Calvin’s remarks to the council, OHS funding packet referenced at the meeting (see transcript segments starting with the OHS director report and ending at the end of that report).