The Metro Action Commission is receiving an additional $9 million for hitting its initial goal of getting housing aid dollars into the hands of landlords and tenants.
The social service agency received $20.8 million in federal funds in March to ensure tenants could stay in their current homes. Despite praise from the federal government — and the additional funds — local housing organizers and nonprofits continue to urge Metro Action to move faster.
Melissa Cherry, with the People’s Alliance for Transit, Housing and Employment (PATHE), says earlier delays in handing out the funds increased how much financial help renters need. In turn, that shrinks the pool of people who Metro Action can help.
“Applying for aid in March and April and having no communication from MAC for months thereafter led to countless people self evicting and sowed distrust among landlords that led them to evict, leaving many with eviction records and massive debt in a city that’s increasingly unaffordable to working class residents,” Cherry wrote in a statement to WPLN News.
Local governments throughout the nation haven’t had the infrastructure they need to quickly get rent relief money to those in needs.
Looking back about three months ago, Metro Action did have some trouble staffing up to process applications for it’s HOPE program. That prompted the Metro Council to check in and make sure things were on the right path. The tone of the meeting was procedural and councilmembers mostly seemed understanding of the bureaucratic hurdles and unprecedented demand that the agency was facing.
Nashville Conflict Resolution Executive Director Sara Figal says she believes funds will now get out faster because federal restrictions have loosened and Metro Action has improved its process.
“It is crucial to remember, however, that a significant percentage of our rental population was not ever eligible for the funds overseen by MAC, because of low income caps mandated by the Federal Treasury. This entire group of tenants and their struggling landlords will be left without recourse other than eviction, unless local and state government offices take responsibility for relief efforts,” Figal wrote to WPLN News.
Last week, Metro Action also received a separate $24 million. Staffers will continue community outreach events to support new and existing applicants. The next events will be on Sept. 18 at the Madison Park Community Center and the African Street Festival.
New procedure in evictions court
Meanwhile, Nashville’s court system has put a new protection in place for renters facing eviction.
Those who have valid rent relief applications filed with Metro Action will have their eviction cases automatically transferred to a special court that’s designed to get landlords paid and to keep tenants in their homes.
The new process is a big win for organizers with PATHE. In late July, they urged officials to do more to prevent evictions. The announcement also comes as Judge Rachel Bell, who runs the special housing court, runs for re-election.
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