Recent Data Shows Major Increase In First-Time Homelessness In Nashville

Image Credit: Wallpaper Flare / Public Domain & Metro Homeless Impact Division

The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –

According to Metro Homeless Impact Division data, the amount of people who became homeless for the first time in Nashville increased by close to 75% from 2019-2022.

The available data shows that 1,185 people experienced homelessness for the first time in 2019 and the number jumps up to 2,060 in the year 2022.

This includes individuals who entered emergency shelters, safe havens, transitional housing, rapid re-house, and other related programs who had not previously been involved in those programs during the two years prior. 

Co-founder of nonprofit Shower the People, Meredity McLeod Jaulin, spoke on what she had noticed concerning this increase.

“Some locations we’ve been at for years,” Jaulin said, “we are noticing new faces every single week. Some people maybe came [to Nashville] for some job prospects that, when they got here, wasn’t an actual job prospect, or were pushed out of their housing due to high rent prices.”

According to WKRN, Metro Homeless Impact Division Communications Director Harriet Wallace, referred to rates of homelessness as “fluid” and discussed recent developments.

“Month-to-month, we exceed our monthly goal of focusing on and housing [the] chronically homeless. We’ve rehoused 140 people during Phase 1 of our encampment housing surge, expanded our landlord incentive program that makes available more housing units, expanded housing vouchers, and much more,” said Wallace. “The road ahead is long and this issue cannot be fixed overnight, but the good news is great progress is happening and change is underway.”

About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.