Press Room

The Metropolitan Homelessness Commission is calling on businesses, faith-based groups, government and nonprofits to raise $71.7 million over the next five years to end chronic homelessness in Nashville.

The Key Alliance, an initiative of the homelessness commission, is aimed at bringing the entire community together to find solutions.

“Homelessness is lethal, and more individuals are being exposed to longer periods of homelessness,” said Clifton Harris, director of the commission. “This fact calls for a new approach that focuses on ending rather than managing homelessness in Nashville.”

The Key Alliance says more than 50 percent of the homeless population is working and many more are seeking work. Metro Nashville Public Schools reported that 1,600 school children were homeless during the course of the past school year. More than 50 homeless individuals died on the street in 2008.

Nashville spends $35,000 per person per year to “manage” homelessness, but it costs an average of $17,000 annually to provide adequate housing and services for a homeless person.

The Key Alliance has set goals for the next five years:

• End chronic homelessness and significantly reduce overall homelessness.

• Create 1,600 Housing First units with support services.

• Hire and train 15 outreach workers who will connect the homeless population with services.

• Raise $71.7 million, about half of which will come from the public and the other half from the private sector.

• Establish a dedicated funding source that will continually help fund Housing First initiatives and preventative resources.

• Assist homeless individuals with employment and other income sources.

• Support and expand homeless prevention services.

• Establish a process to move individuals quickly from shelter and transitional housing situations into permanent supportive housing.

• Utilize the Nashville Homeless Management Information System data to map progress, pinpoint gaps and develop methods for improvement.