Nashville housing advocates are calling for a sense of urgency to stop evictions. The city has received millions of federal dollars for housing assistance, but organizers say the issue is only growing worse.
Jackie Sims is the executive director of the People’s Alliance for Transit, Housing and Employment, or P.A.T.H.E. She says one problem is that people aren’t seeing their aid approved soon enough.
“You tell people, ‘Come to court. This is the best way to help keep your housing. Then, there’s programs down there that are going to help you help secure your housing,'” Sims says. “And they end up getting evicted anyway — some of them.”
More: Where Nashville Evictions Are Happening And How Often, According To Volunteer Group’s Analysis
The public hearing was organized by the Metro Human Resources Commission. The committee will hold another discussion on affordable housing in November.
A recent analysis by the Red Door Collective, a coalition of housing advocates, found that evictions have been slowed by a federal moratorium during the pandemic. But hundreds of warrants to begin the eviction process are still being issued each month, with many of those leading to families relocating.
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