What is Affordable Housing?
Housing is generally considered affordable when households are spending no more than 30% of their gross income on housing costs, which includes rent and other expenses like utilities. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines affordable housing as homes affordable for households earning 0-80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). For a quick overview about affordable housing definitions and how affordable housing applies to Nashville, please click the link below.
What is Affordable Housing and Who Needs It?
Metro Nashville's Affordable Housing Needs
The Housing Division has created an Affordable Housing Dashboard to document and track Metro Nashville's affordable housing needs and progress towards meeting those needs. Please check out the dashboard to keep up to date on the state of housing in Nashville-Davidson County. Please note: The dashboard is updated quarterly.
Learn about the state of affordable housing in Nashville
Metro Housing Studies and Reports
The Housing Division has been working towards identifying the factors attributing to housing insecurity and determining effective strategies to address this growing concern. The following reports and studies highlight Metro Nashville's need for affordable housing and share insights on how the city is working towards alleviating this pressing issue while fostering inclusive communities and ensuring equitable access to housing for all Nashvillians.
Upcoming
The Unified Housing Strategy
As of now, no comprehensive strategy or plan exists to address the housing challenges that Metro Nashville faces. Metro aims to build up on the work and recommendations of the Affordable Housing Taskforce Report to change that and create a single strategic direction to guide Metro's approach to increase housing security for all Nashvillians. The desired outcomes of the UHS will be actionable strategies that:
- Expand permanent housing options affordable to Nashvillians at all incomes levels, therefore reducing the percentage of Nashvillians who are cost-burdened;
- Increase access to housing for all protected classes by addressing long-standing housing inequities;
- Support residents with resources and policies to achieve and maintain housing security and stability; and
- Ensure that Nashville's housing stock and systems are resilient and sustainable.
Previous
Affordable Housing Taskforce Report
In January 2021, Mayor John Cooper convened an Affordable Housing Task Force to bring forward recommendations for policies, funding and programs that could create significant impact in the near term. The Task Force's Report was issued in June 2021 and guides much of the work of the Housing Division.
Affordable Housing Taskforce Report
Metro Nashville Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development
Metro Nashville receives federal funds directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to address affordable housing, homelessness, and economic and community development needs in low- and moderate-income areas. The uses of these funds are guided by a Five-Year Consolidated Plan and Annual Updates. In addition, HUD may issue other funding related to disaster or economic recovery. These funds are also guided by Action Plans. The Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) prepares these plans and related reports and oversees the administration of the federal funds on behalf of Metro Nashville.
Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency Consolidated Plan
Barnes Fund Annual Reports
Barnes Fund annual reports are issued after the close of a fiscal year (July-June) and highlight the performance of the fund, both for that period and accumulatively. These comprehensive reports provide in-depth information regarding the utilization of Barnes funding, the impact of investments, and the progress made toward promoting affordable housing initiatives within Nashville.