# 9. Affordable Housing and Homelessness 2004-200

Meredith Bellson 22 posts Aug 17, 2007 2:35 PM

# 9. Affordable Housing and Homelessness 2004-2005 NOTE: POST A MESSAGE TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS! WHEREAS, at least 350,000 Tennessee households must pay more than one third of their income for housing; and the average one bedroom apartment in Tennessee rents for 80 percent of a SSI check; and WHEREAS, there is a critical need for affordable rental housing as well as for enhanced public and private financing to support homeownership opportunities for very low-income to moderate-income families; and WHEREAS, the lack of jobs paying adequate wages coupled with the lack of affordable housing are primary causes of homelessness in Tennessee; and WHEREAS, although the urban areas of the state have the greatest homeless problem, many other areas of the state report problems with severe housing shortages for low-income families; and WHEREAS, various approaches are being implemented by local communities across the state and several departments of state government have responsibilities for some of the problems exhibited by the homeless; and WHEREAS, the Department of Mental Health, Office of Housing and Development, established the Creating Homes Initiative which has already exceeded its original goal and has created housing for thousands of mentally ill, low-income persons across Tennessee; WHEREAS, while Tennessee has utilized most available federal funds through the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, the availability and level of federal funds are unstable from year to year and the continuity of homeless services demands a financial commitment from state government; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that TCSW support local housing planning efforts and encourage more cities across Tennessee to adopt their own “blue print” to end homelessness and encourage full citizen participation in these planning processes; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that TCSW support Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) programs that provide grants to localities to improve affordable housing opportunities for low-income persons and to revitalize deteriorating inner city neighborhoods; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that TCSW encourage supportive housing legislation that will stimulate the development of housing options for the homeless with mental illness and homeless families with children (including programs like Department of Mental Health, Office of Housing and Development, Creating Homes Initiative;) and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that TCSW support the development of programs that follow best practices like the Housing First Model; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that TCSW support the development of Homeownership Programs that lower the cost of buying a house so that more Tennesseans can live in their own permanent home.

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