1. First, let’s look at the budget for the Office of Homeless Services and their payroll. What did you find?
A: Last year was the first year Metro had a standalone homeless services office.
While its budget only increased $78,000 — from $5.5 million last year to $5.6 million this year — the largest increase is in paying staffers.
Last fiscal year, the office paid $2.2 million in pay to 32 staffers.
This year, it’s paying 43 people $2.9 million — a $700,000 increase.
Everyone got raises – the highest paid is Director April Calvin, who went from earning $159,000 to $170,000 — three special projects managers went from $111,000 to $119,000.
The remaining almost 40 employees made between $50,000 and $98,000.
So 10% of the office employees made $100,000 or more — that’s compared to the rest of Metro agencies, where 5% of staff make six figures.
The rest of the office’s budget remains largely unchanged — some savings on things like utilities and other expenses.
2. Metro Nashville is spending a one-time $50 million from the federal government on homeless services. What’s the latest on how that money is being spent?
A: Metro got $50 million from American Rescue Plan Act for homeless services and housing:
-$25 million for the Metro Development and Housing Agency to give out low-cost loans for housing units – that is being used to create more than 900 units – some already completed, some planned. (p.10) One project ($7.5 mil) is Barnes Housing Trust Fund converting a former HomeTown Studios motel located at 1210 Murfreesboro Pike — now called Green View Apartments — for 120 units of permanent supportive housing and deeply affordable housing – with priority given to young people aging out of foster care (p.8)
- $9 million allotted to the Metro Homeless Impact Division of the Social Services Department to provide temporary gap housing – of that $9 million, all but $24,000 has been spent (p.7)
- $7 million committed to a partnership between Metro government and landlords and developers to lower housing criteria to house more people, as well as for housing domestic violence victims, families, and members of the LGBTQ community. Only about $4 million of that has been allocated, most of it hasn’t been spent as of last month
-$9 million allocated to supportive services for homeless individuals. Almost all of that has been allocated in agreements with service providers for medical services, meal services, substance abuse treatment, employment resources and other housing support. But as of last month, less than one-third had been spent.