Office of Homeless Services reports cold-weather shelter surge, inventory and housing outcomes

The Office of Homeless Services reported expanded cold-weather operations, new housing inventory tools and year-end housing outcomes at the Homeless Planning Council meeting.

Director April Calvin told the council that the office operated an extended cold-weather overflow shelter for the first time under Metro direction, sheltering for 15 days with an average of about 200 individuals per night and extended morning hours during the week. The shelter team has recorded 11 guests moving into permanent housing during the 15-day stretch; Calvin noted those relocations likely reflected existing service connections in several cases.

Calvin said the office has integrated cold-weather shelter data into HMIS for the first time and highlighted several findings from early entries: the average age of people served is 48, 93% self-reported at least one disabling condition, and about 44% of guests were not connected to any other service provider. She said the office is partnering with the health department, which provided opioid-abatement funds to add staff capacity for triage and coordinated entry.

The low-barrier housing inventory tool now called PAD Mission lists 327 locations in the community that may accept people experiencing homelessness; Calvin reported the platform shows about 728 vacant units at the time of reporting. On affordable housing development, she said the Metro affordable gap loan ($25,000,000) has been fully expended across 10 developers and has produced 930 units, of which 182 units are dedicated to people experiencing homelessness (the initial goal had been 120 dedicated units).

Calvin also updated the council on an interim housing procurement for the Roadway Inn site. She said negotiations narrowed a recent RFP round to three organizations — Launchpad, CCF (mobile housing navigation), and Hospitality Hub (Memphis-based) — and that Metro Legal is processing contracts for council or Metro Council action. She said staff will push for the related legislation to go to Metro Council on Jan. 21.

Public comment earlier in the meeting raised questions about “pods” (temporary pod-style units). Deedee Byrd, a Davidson County resident, asked how the community could track the movement of pod sites and what the next steps are for people who refuse conventional shelter offers. Director Calvin deferred to the Office of Homeless Services and Metro Legal, telling Byrd she would follow up and provide more information when available.

HMIS staff reported broader system data: in December 2024 HMIS recorded 3,098 people experiencing homelessness that month (2,640 households, including 245 families and 344 children). For the calendar year 2024, HMIS recorded 10,874 unique people experiencing homelessness and 1,912 unduplicated people housed. Of those housed in 2024, 47% exited from places not meant for habitation and 32% from emergency shelters.

Calvin and HMIS staff said more detail is available in the meeting packet and encouraged council members to contact staff with follow-up questions about inventory counts, PAD Mission reporting and the Roadway Inn procurement.