Policy Platform

Tennesseans are facing a housing crisis where rents, evictions, housing prices, and homelessness are all too high. In order to address housing in our state, we have to come together across geographic and political lines to ensure housing for each and every resident!

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

We believe that housing is the foundation of healthy communities, but for many Tennesseans, affordable housing is out of reach. The housing crisis is one of the most pressing issues in our state. It impacts all of us, whether we live in urban or rural areas or come from middle class or low income families. In Tennessee, 28% of residents are cost burdened – paying over 30% of their income on housing – and there is a shortage of 121,000 rental homes for extremely low income renters. Our policy solutions must prioritize the well-being of our communities over corporate profits and include those with the lowest incomes. 

TENANTS’ RIGHTS

We believe that everyone deserves to live in safe, affordable, and dignified housing. In Tennessee, however, current laws make it nearly impossible to hold landlords accountable. We must ensure that all tenants are protected from exploitation, dangerous living conditions, and unjust evictions. It’s time to protect tenants’ right to organize collectively to address landlord abuse without fear of retaliation like eviction and non-renewal of leases that negatively impact all renters, but especially families with children. 

ENDING HOMELESSNESS

We believe that ending homelessness in our state is possible. Communities across the nation have effectively prevented, reduced, and ended long-term homelessness through investing in permanent housing and support services and implementing programs and policies that are proven to work. We know that citing, fining, and arresting people for being unhoused further exacerbates homelessness and is less cost-effective than providing housing. When every Tennessean has the stability of a home, we all win. 

RACIAL EQUITY

To tackle the housing crisis, we have to address the racism deeply embedded in our current housing systems. This includes segregation, predatory lending, redlining (race-based zoning), taking land from Indigenous Peoples, and gentrification disguised as “urban renewal.” Now is the time to reverse policies that have resulted in displacement and inequality. We can’t change history, but we can work to repair bad policy and make it possible for everyone to thrive regardless of skin color, zip code, and economic status.