The Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) today announced that Nashville-Davidson County will soon receive an additional $8.4 million in Emergency Solutions Grants Coronavirus (ESG-CV) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). This is in addition to the first round of $4.9 million in funding, bringing Nashville-Davidson County’s total CARES Act funding to $13.3 million, which will be used to help approximately 14,400 Nashvillians in need.
ESG-CV funds are to be used to prevent, prepare for and respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic by assisting individuals and families experiencing homelessness or receiving homeless assistance; and to support additional homeless assistance and homelessness prevention activities to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19.
After consultation with the Mayor’s Office, the Continuum of Care stakeholders and HUD officials, this second round of ESG-CV funding will be awarded to nonprofit and local government agencies to provide rapid re-housing for approximately 400 individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
“This is one of the most challenging times in our city’s history, and many of our neighbors are struggling to make ends meet in the economic upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mayor Cooper. “I’m grateful for the collaboration among our many community partners that are working to ensure vulnerable Nashvillians benefit from this vital and timely federal funding.”
People of color who experience homelessness, particularly African Americans, often have more complex problems as a result of having been the target of historic and systemic racism. As a result of discrimination, they have had disproportionate interaction with the criminal justice system, less access to quality health care, poorer health, less access to quality and healthful food, poorer educations, less job opportunity and advancement, etc.
Targeting people with lesser needs for homelessness prevention/eviction assistance can result in those with more complex problems going un-served and further perpetuate racial disparities in homelessness. To create an equitable system will require that systems work to quickly move all individuals, including those that have higher or more complex needs, into permanent housing as quickly as possible.
MDHA is now requesting applications from nonprofits and local government agencies interested in assisting individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Applicants may access the Request for Applications (RFA) here: http://bit.ly/esgapply. The application must be created and submitted electronically by Monday, Sept. 21, 2020.
MDHA received $4.9 million in CARES Act grants during the first round of funding. Through a Request for Applications process, and in partnership with the Mayor’s Office, MDHA recently awarded Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG-CV), Emergency Solutions Grants Coronavirus (ESG-CV) and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Coronavirus (HOPWA-CV) funds to more than 20 local nonprofit and social service agencies.
The $4.9 million will support the below agencies in serving more than 14,000 low-to-moderate income and vulnerable households impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic by administering emergency rent mortgage assistance and housing assistance programs, providing to services for homeless populations and offering expanded support to persons with AIDS.
The nonprofit and social service agencies receiving funding from the first round of CARES Act grants include:
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-CV) Awards:
Affordable Housing Resources, Inc.
Conexion Americas
Martha O’Bryan Center
Nashville Metropolitan Action Commission
The Hope Station, Inc
The Salvation Army of Nashville
Emergency Solution Grant (ESG-CV) Awards:
AGAPE – Morning Star Domestic Violence Program
Community Care Fellowship
Nashville CARES
Nashville District Management Corporation/Nashville Downtown Partnership
Nashville Launch Pad, Inc.
Nashville Safe Haven Family Shelter DBA Safe Haven Family Shelter
Oasis Center, Inc.
Operation Stand Down Tennessee
Park Center Nashville
Room In The Inn
Step Up on Second, Inc.
The Contributor, Inc.
The Mary Parrish Center
The Salvation Army of Nashville
Housing Opportunities for Persons With Aids (HOPWA-CV) Awards:
Meharry Medical College
Nashville CARES
Street Works
Urban Housing Solutions
These funds are administered by HUD and operated by MDHA on behalf of the city of Nashville.
About the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency
Established in 1938, MDHA provides affordable housing opportunities to more than 13,000 families primarily through Project-Based Rental Assistance and Section 8 vouchers. It also manages federally-funded community development and homeless assistance programs on behalf of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. To foster urban growth, MDHA oversees 12 redevelopment districts that guide development through design and land-use zoning controls. Additional information about MDHA can be found on www.nashville-mdha.org, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
