Metro Housing Studies and Reports
The Housing Division has been working towards identifying the factors attributing to housing insecurity and determining effective strategies to address this growing concern. The following reports and studies highlight Metro Nashville's need for affordable housing and share insights on how the city is working towards alleviating this pressing issue while fostering inclusive communities and ensuring equitable access to housing for all Nashvillians.
The Unified Housing Strategy
On April 29, 2025, Metro released the city’s first Unified Housing Strategy (UHS). The UHS builds on a foundation of existing and ongoing efforts, including the 2021 Affordable Housing Task Force Report, by providing clear implementable steps to strengthen housing security in Nashville. Developed through extensive community engagement and rigorous analysis, the UHS reflects the lived experiences and priorities of residents. In the summer of 2024, community members shared their housing concerns, challenges, and hopes through surveys and listening sessions. Additional input came from key stakeholders—such as legal experts, developers, nonprofits, and financial institutions—through roundtables and interviews.
The UHS recommended 7 Strategies for Metro to advance housing Security in Nashville-Davidson County:
- Strategy A: Align the Housing Ecosystem
- Strategy B: Fortify Funding and Resources
- Strategy C: Build New Housing
- Strategy D: Support Homeownership Opportunities
- Strategy E: Increase Supportive Housing Opportunities
- Strategy F: Preserve Existing Housing
- Strategy G: Improve Accessibility and Stability
Creating Affordable, Sustainable, and Resilient Housing: A Technical Assistance Panel with the Urban Land Institute Nashville and Terwilliger Center for Housing
The Metro Housing Division believes that all current and future residents deserve quality housing that protects them from the ever-changing climate and enables quick recovery in the event of a climate disaster. Metro’s Housing Division aims to set the standard for both affordable and market-rate development to support a more resilient Nashville for all neighbors.
In June 2024, Metro’s Housing Division partnered with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Nashville chapter to bring expert panelists to provide guidance on goals related to delivering affordable, sustainable, and resilient housing, including:
- Discover replicable sustainability and resiliency practices from other cities for affordable housing.
- Identify policies hindering sustainable and resilient affordable housing develop and suggest incentivization methods.
- Leverage mapping & data tools and local policies to enhance sustainability and resilience in affordable housing, including but not limited to land use controls and metrics for evaluation.
- Explore funding sources and departmental coordination to integrate sustainability and resiliency into affordable housing initiatives
On December 3, 2024, ULI Nashville released the Sustaining Nashville Technical Assistance Panel report summarizing the findings of this initiative.
Affordable Housing Taskforce Report
In January 2021, Mayor John Cooper convened an Affordable Housing Task Force to bring forward recommendations for policies, funding and programs that could create significant impact in the near term. The Task Force’s Report was issued in June 2021 and guides much of the work of the Housing Division.
Affordable Housing Taskforce Report
Metro Nashville Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development
Metro Nashville receives federal funds directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to address affordable housing, homelessness, and economic and community development needs in low- and moderate-income areas. The uses of these funds are guided by a Five-Year Consolidated Plan and Annual Updates. In addition, HUD may issue other funding related to disaster or economic recovery. These funds are also guided by Action Plans. The Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) prepares these plans and related reports and oversees the administration of the federal funds on behalf of Metro Nashville.
Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency Consolidated Plan
Barnes Fund Annual Reports
Barnes Fund annual reports are issued after the close of a fiscal year (July-June) and highlight the performance of the fund, both for that period and accumulatively. These comprehensive reports provide in-depth information regarding the utilization of Barnes funding, the impact of investments, and the progress made toward promoting affordable housing initiatives within Nashville.
