Council considers $2.1M add for eviction counsel and a $1M boost to Barnes housing fund

Councilmembers reviewed multiple housing-related wish-list items, including a request to add $2.1 million to an existing eviction right-to-counsel allocation and a proposal to add $1 million to the Barnes Affordable Housing Trust.

Several councilmembers and caucuses — including the immigrant and minority caucuses and members who participated in earlier work sessions — consolidated the eviction-related requests into a single wish-list item, saying the program could scale now for an additional $2.1 million on top of the mayor’s proposed funding. A council member noted the total program context discussed in the meeting as $9 million; the mayor’s proposed budget was said to maintain a baseline amount (described as $2.4 million in the hearing), with the $2.1 million presented as an additional ask to expand capacity.

Councilmember Allen urged adding $1 million to the Barnes fund so the city approaches the $30 million recommended by the Unified Housing Strategy. Allen said the city’s combined proposed funding (a $22 million baseline plus a $7 million revolving housing fund) leaves the Barnes fund roughly $1 million short of the strategy’s target.

Other housing-related requests discussed included anti-displacement funds targeted to long-time low-income homeowners (Rebuilding Together Nashville reference) and support for transitional housing programs such as Launch Pad with varying requested amounts (noted in the packet between $300,000 and $350,000). The chair signaled the council will continue reconciling funding sources and hopes to include high-priority housing items in the substitute budget.

No formal votes were taken; councilmembers asked staff and finance to identify funding sources and to circulate a substitute ahead of the June 10 work session.