While some may think that the pandemic acted as a catalyst for the current housing crisis in Nashville and across the nation, this widespread panic about housing security has been felt for far longer than the last four years.
Forty-three states and the District of Columbia collect revenue from individual income taxes – Tennessee is not one of them. While not paying income tax is a perk for people moving into Tennessee from states with an income tax, it’s obvious that the additional revenue could benefit local residents and Tennesseans.
Tax increases are political because they ask fundamentally political questions: “What services do we all want?” and “How do we pay for them?”
Metro Nashville operates on a structurally-balanced budget that requires every amount that comes in as revenue to go out as an expenditure.
Just like the budget is essential for your home, it is also essential for Metro Nashville residents. Even if they don’t even know it yet.
Did you know that everyday people like you can also use your voice and power to influence the city’s budget?
In 2023, we strengthened our base to amplify opportunities for real Nashvillians and solutions to complex community issues—but we didn’t do it alone.
While many people view the growing number of unhoused Nashvillians as an individual problem, there are many families also struggling to find and maintain sustainable housing. Dubbed “hidden homelessness,” families facing a housing crisis often deal with even more barriers to access than individuals.
While the idea of homeownership is something Hannah desires, it unfortunately seems out of reach, “I think about trying to buy a house, but I work hourly jobs.” Planning for a home would mean she’d have to drastically alter her other high-priority expenses, such as selling her car or unenrolling from health insurance to cut expenses.
The housing crisis is not a priority in Nashville and that’s what sickens me…but we’re getting new stadiums, bars, upgrades to Broadway, and tall & skinnies.
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