A proposal to create a standalone office for housing and homelessness — an independent agency no longer under another department — is attracting a broad base of backers. Even members of the group “Reclaim Brookmeade Park”—who are vocal advocates for removal of homeless campers from local public areas—appeared at this week’s press conference to support the new legislation.
Metro Nashville’s homelessness-focused office has always been nested under larger, related departments. Originally the then-titled Metropolitan Homelessness Commission was created under Metro Social Services. It was later moved under MDHA, then back to MSS and titled the Homeless Impact Division.
Councilman Freddie O’Connell, who filed the bill just days after the sudden departure of the city’s homelessness director, says the plan already has about 10 co-sponsors and would cost “very, very little new funding.”
“It is clear that the Metro Homeless Impact Division needs a home outside of Metro Social Services, which has a huge sprawling mission,” O’Connell says. “We need a laser focus on providing housing for people who do not have housing today.“
His bill is set for first reading on Tuesday.
When it was filed on Wednesday, roughly 50 people gathered on the courthouse steps to show their support. They say they want an office with focused strategies and a clear mission and purpose.
“It is a layer of bureaucracy that can be removed,” says Paula Foster, director of Open Table Nashville. “The function of government…is to care for its citizens. This gives us the ability to focus on that in a way that being a small division under a larger department doesn’t do.”
At the same time, the new homelessness agency may meet resistance from Mayor John Cooper. A spokesperson from his office says they don’t currently see a reason to separate the agency and disrupt a cohesive model they believe is working.
So far this year, more than 550 individuals have been housed through collaborative efforts between MDHA, MSS and the Impact Division.
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