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Housing

Historically speaking, Nashville was a relatively affordable place to live. Before 2010 let’s say, it wasn’t unreasonable to expect that your average full-time job could afford you a place to rent or even buy within a 15 minute drive to the center of town. You might even have enough space for your band to rehearse.

But with the average home price now over $400K, once working class neighborhoods near the city center have become out of reach for all but upper income residents. Options for lower income Nashvillians have dwindled. And with the city projected to continue to grow at a rapid clip, the future of affordable housing seems tenuous without strong policies and interventions to address it.

The WPLN newsroom will continue to report on the state of housing in Middle Tennessee as the region continues to reckon with the consequences of its rapid growth.

Join the conversation! We’ve dedicated several episodes of This Is Nashville to the rising cost of housing. Listen on any podcasting app, or on our website:

Trump wants to ax an affordable housing grant that’s a lifeline for many rural communities

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President Donald Trump and House Republicans want to cut new funding for a housing grant that many rural areas rely on to help fund affordable housing. The grant has helped fund or repair more than 1.3 million affordable units, including 540,000 in rural areas and small towns.

One South Nashville neighborhood’s fight against development mirrors citywide debate

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Intense debates about housing density are playing out across Nashville, and new policies are on the horizon.

In My Place, Episode 16: We’re homeward bound!

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Welcome back to our second season of In My Place. This special series educates listeners on what communities like Nashville can do to prevent and end homelessness — while caring for our neighbors who are still unhoused. In our last episode, we heard about how last-minute hurdles can stand in the way of an apartment. Today, we’re […]

In My Place, Episode 15: Two steps forward. Now what?

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Welcome back to our second season of In My Place. This special series educates listeners on what communities like Nashville can do to prevent and end homelessness — while caring for our neighbors who are still unhoused. In our last episode, we learned what happens when the paperwork finally comes through and puzzle pieces start building a […]

Pastor Glenda Sutton moves Nashville families through their challenges

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Pastor Glenda Gleaves Sutton arrived in Nashville with her two sons in tow. She had left a stressful but steady life as an air traffic controller and was on a mission to repair her own family. That effort didn’t pan out as quickly as hoped, and left her temporarily homeless. She has since dedicated her […]

In My Place, Episode 14: Puzzle Pieces

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Welcome back to our second season of In My Place. This special series educates listeners on what communities like Nashville can do to prevent and end homelessness — while caring for our neighbors who are still unhoused.

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