Homelessness Commission

Description

The Metropolitan Homelessness Commission is Metro’s coordination and planning entity that brings advocates, nonprofit organizations, for-profit business leaders, government agencies, and the general public together to end homelessness in Nashville.

History

As part of the national effort to end chronic homelessness, the city of Nashville created the Task Force to End Chronic Homelessness in April 2004. The Task Force, which brought together community leaders, government officials and services agencies, examined the complexities of homelessness in Nashville and developed the Strategic Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in Nashville 2005-2015, which serves as a blueprint to eliminate chronic homelessness in Nashville.

The Metropolitan Homelessness Commission was created by ordinance in May 2005 as part of Metro Social Service (MSS). The 22-member commission, which began meeting in August 2005, was charged with implementing the Strategic Plan. However, commissioners decided to expand the focus of the Strategic Plan and include all homeless individuals and families in the fight of homelessness.

Highlights

The Metropolitan Homelessness Commission developed Nashville’s Housing First program, which through a contract with Eckman/Freeman and Associates provides housing and case management to some of the most vulnerable homeless individuals in Nashville.

The Commission partnered with Park Center to create an SSI/SSDI outreach program in 2006. The program now is recognized at the state and national levels as a best practice initiative for getting homeless individuals income through the Social Security Administration.

The city’s largest direct service provider event, Project Homeless Connect Nashville, was launched by the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission in 2008. Project Homeless Connect is an annual one-day event that brings more than 70 service providers together in one location and offers services to about 1,500 individuals including children who experience homelessness or find themselves on the brink of homelessness. Project Homeless Connect aims to remove barriers to housing and employment.

In addition, the Commission supports the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) as well as the annual homeless count, which is required for the city to receive federal funding. HMIS is currently housed at the Metropolitan Housing and Development Agency (MDHA).

Members

Related Documents

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4/16/2013	Meeting Agenda - Executive Comittee
3/1/2013	Meeting Agenda
2/19/2013	Metropolitan Homelessness Commission Executive Committee
1/18/2013	Meeting Agenda
11/20/2012	Meeting Agenda
9/7/2012	Meeting Minutes - Full Commission
7/6/2012	Meeting Minutes - Full Commission
5/4/2012	Meeting Minutes - Full Commission
3/2/2012	Meeting Minutes - Full Commission
1/6/2012	Meeting Minutes - Full Commission