Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Digital Subscription
    • Advertisement
    • Contact Us
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    The Tennessee TribuneThe Tennessee Tribune
    Advertise With Us
    • Home
      • COVID-19 Resource Center
        • Dr. Henry Louis Gates’ PSA Radio
      • Featured
    • News
      • State
      • Local
      • National/International News
      • Global
      • Business
        • Commentary
        • Finance
        • Local Business
      • Investigative Stories
        • Affordable Housing
        • DCS Investigation
        • Gentrification
    • Editorial
      • National Politics
      • Local News
      • Local Editorial
      • Political Editorial
      • Editorial Cartoons
      • Cycle of Shame
    • Community
      • History
      • Tennessee
        • Chattanooga
        • Clarksville
        • Knoxville
        • Memphis
      • Public Notices
      • Women
        • Let’s Talk with Ms. June
    • Education
      • College
        • American Baptist College
        • Belmont University
        • Fisk
        • HBCU
        • Meharry
        • MTSU
        • University of Tennessee
        • TSU
        • Vanderbilt
      • Elementary
      • High School
    • Lifestyle
      • Art
      • Auto
      • Tribune Travel
      • Entertainment
        • 5 Questions With
        • Books
        • Events
        • Film Review
        • Local Entertainment
      • Family
      • Food
        • Drinks
      • Health & Wellness
      • Home & Garden
      • Featured Books
    • Religion
      • National Religion
      • Local Religion
      • Obituaries
        • National Obituaries
        • Local Obituaries
      • Faith Commentary
    • Sports
      • MLB
        • Sounds
      • NBA
      • NCAA
      • NFL
        • Predators
        • Titans
      • NHL
      • Other Sports
      • Golf
      • Professional Sports
      • Sports Commentary
      • Metro Sports
    • Media
      • Video
      • Photo Galleries
      • Take 10
      • Trending With The Tribune
    • Classified
    • Obituaries
      • Local Obituaries
      • National Obituaries
    The Tennessee TribuneThe Tennessee Tribune
    Nashville

    Affordable Housing, What it Means and Why it Matters

    Article submittedBy Article submittedMarch 1, 2018No Comments2 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram Pinterest Tumblr Reddit Email
    Kay Bowers
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
    Advertisement

    By Kay Bowers

    NASHVILLE, TN — Often using these two phrases together can be a lightning rod creating negative images in people’s minds that limits their thinking and interest in engaging meaningful conversation affordable housing and its impact. Affordable housing is too important to thousands of Nashvillians for us to accept narrow mindedness when it comes to tackling the housing challenges we face. When individuals and families have to use more than 30% of their income to cover housing costs which includes utilities they are considered cost burdened and their housing is unaffordable. Today in Nashville 49% of our renters and 31% of homeowners with a mortgage spend 31% or more on housing costs. To compound problems we have lost thousands of homes that were once affordable to lower and middle income households in the last 6 years.

    To afford the fair market rent someone needs a monthly income of $4,627 or an annual income of $55,000. About 35% of all jobs in the Nashville region are in sectors where the median wage is less than $15/hr. Thousands of workers our city depends on do not earn anywhere near $55,000 and are struggling under high housing costs or unaffordable housing.

    We cross paths with these workers every day. They are taking care of our children in our schools and our loved ones in hospitals, keeping our grocery store shelves stocked, preparing and serving the meals we eat in our restaurants and working at any number of government offices, hotels or entertainment venues around town.

    The next time you sit down at one of your favorite lunch spots, stop at the grocery store or walk past a support worker at your child’s school try asking yourself three questions, I wonder what their monthly income is, I wonder what how much rent they are paying and I wonder where they live. Having quality, safe and affordable housing or not dramatically affects our children’s emotional health, their ability to learn and achieve. It matters when it comes to our health, the health of our community and the costs of our healthcare. It matters for the stability of families, our workforce and the safety of our neighborhoods. Housing matters to all of us.

    Kay Bowers is a champion for affordable housing and the Executive Director of New Level Community Development Corporation in Nashville TN, where she has served for the past 12 years.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Article submitted

    Related Posts

    Lighting the Path: Celebrating 18 Years of Les Gemmes’ Literary Luncheon

    May 7, 2025

    THE NEW 2025 REAPPRAISAL PROPERTY VALUES WERE MAILED TODAY DAVIDSON COUNTY PROPERTY OWNERS MAY ALSO VIEW NEW PROPERTY VALUES ONLINE

    April 18, 2025

    Lindsley Avenue Church of Christ installs historic window using funds from TN Historical Commission grant

    March 22, 2025

    ATHENA Recipients Take Nashville to Athens

    March 20, 2025

    American Pride Rises Partnering with Campus Organizations to Defend DEI on College Campuses in Nashville

    March 18, 2025

    Vice Mayor Angie E. Henderson Appointed to National League of Cities Federal Advocacy Committee, Attends Congressional City Conference with Metro Council Members Toombs & Allen

    March 15, 2025
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Business

    Target Boycotts and its Effect on Both Sides of the Black Dollar

    May 6, 2025

    FedEx to Launch FedEx Easy Returns at 3,000 Locations Across the US, Supported by Blue Yonder

    May 2, 2025

    Best Lawyers® Names Bailey, Hargrove, Haynes, and Stakely Lawyers of the Year

    April 24, 2025
    1 2 3 … 382 Next
    Education
    HBCU

    TSU Honors New Generation of Leaders at Spring Commencement Celebration

    By Emmanuel FreemanMay 8, 2025

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (TSU News Service)– In a celebration steeped in legacy and hope, Tennessee…

    Fisk University Honors the Class of 2025 with Baccalaureate and Commencement Ceremonies

    April 26, 2025

    TSU’s Spring Commencement Ceremonies to Feature Inspiring Keynote Speakers

    April 24, 2025

    TSU’s Dr. Robbie K. Melton Named a 2025 Leading Woman in AI

    April 24, 2025
    The Tennessee Tribune
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • About Us
    • Digital Subscription
    • Store
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact
    © 2025 The Tennessee Tribune - Site Designed by No Regret Media.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Our Spring Sale Has Started

    You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/