In 2013, Mayor Karl Dean and the Metro Council created Metro Nashville's first housing trust fund to leverage affordable housing developments throughout Davidson County. Named after Reverend Bill Barnes, a longstanding advocate for affordable housing and deconcentrating poverty, the Barnes Fund makes competitive grants to nonprofit housing developers to increase affordable housing options for Nashvillians. Grants include funding for preservation and creation of affordable rental and homeowner units and other supportive efforts to encourage long-term affordability.
Since its inception, the Barnes Fund has invested more than $108 million in affordable housing development and preservation and has leveraged over $1 billion dollars of federal and private funding to construct more than 4700 housing units.
2024 Barnes 10 Year Celebration Video
- 2023 Barnes Annual Report
- 2022 Barnes Annual Report
- 2021 Barnes Annual Report
- 2020 Barnes Annual Report
How to Apply
Below is a list of organizations that have received funding from the Barnes Fund:
- Fall 2014 Round 1 Funding
- Fall 2015 Round 2 Funding
- Fall 2016 Round 3 Funding
- Spring 2017 Round 4 Funding
- Fall 2017 Round 5 Funding
- Spring 2019 Round 6 Funding
- Fall 2019 Round 7 Funding
- Spring 2021 Round 8 Funding
- Fall 2021 Round 9 Funding
- Spring 2022 Round 10 Funding
- Spring 2023 Round 11 Funding
- Fall 2023 Round 12 Funding
- Spring 2024 Round 13 Funding
Barnes General Funding Guidelines
Eligible projects must create or preserve affordable housing opportunities in Nashville and Davidson County. Rental projects must be affordable to households with incomes at or below 60% of the median family income adjusted for family size. Home buyer/home owner rehabilitation projects must be affordable to households with incomes at or below 80% of the median family income adjusted for family size.
Barnes Grantee Materials
- 2024 Interim Grant Report (Round11)
- 2023 Interim Grant Report
- 2023 Final Grant Report
- Final Report Unit Verification Template
- Barnes Contract Amendment Request Form
Metro-Owned Properties for Donation
In addition to awarding funds to nonprofit developers, The Barnes Fund often donates Metro-owned property to nonprofit applicants. In order to apply for Metro-owned properties, developers must also apply for financial support and it must be during a competitive funding round.
In the event two or more organizations request the same lot, the property will be awarded to the organization with the highest scoring application.
Metropolitan Housing Trust Fund Commission
The Metropolitan Housing Trust Fund Commission governs the Barnes Fund to award and assist in stewarding funds that provide quality affordable housing options throughout Davidson County. The Commission meets every 4th Tuesday of the month at the Sonny West Conference Center.
Donations to the Barnes Fund
If you are considering making a donation to the Barnes Fund, please read the 2023 Donation Policy prior to inquiring. Questions may be directed to [email protected].