Too many members of the Knoxville community do not have access to affordable housing. We are asking that the elected officials of Knoxville, TN consider housing policy changes that reflect the need their community is facing. 

In Knoxville, housing prices have reportedly increased by 30% in 2021 alone, compared to a 12% increase nationwide. Currently, the average rent in Knoxville is $1,319/ per month. Considering that 58% of those living in Knoxville are considered to be low-income. This data shows that more than half of Knoxville’s community households cannot currently afford the average price of rent. If we do nothing, community members of Knoxville, Tennessee will continue to lack access to affordable housing, this will lead to homelessness and urban exodus, ultimately decreasing community diversity and harming local economic growth and development. Those most impacted by the dramatic increase are mostly low wage earners, although some mid-range salary earners have been affected as a result of not earning enough income to obtain adequate housing but earning too much to qualify for assistance from the State of Tennessee or the City of Knoxville. The Knoxville Community Development Corporation (KCDC) reports that applicants for the city’s housing voucher program must make less than 50% of the published median income for the county (currently set at $40,900 per year for a single person) and that 75% of the vouchers are required to go to individuals/families making less than 30% of that figure. Knoxville has seen an increase of over 700 individuals becoming homeless in less than one year. The Knoxville Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) 2020 Annual Report cites “lack of affordable housing” as the reason for 31% of the respondents’ homelessness. The statistics in Knoxville confirm the nationwide trends that show consistent increases in “older, minority, and non-traditional” renters being at higher risk in the affordability crisis. 

One policy that local elected officials could use to alleviate the housing struggle would be to reconsider zoning laws that restrict construction and rentals in certain neighborhoods to units that accommodate only one family. These policies keep structures from being built that could house more families and potentially at a less expensive rate. One approach that could be taken would be to grant more emergency zoning exemptions that would allow for the construction of multi-housing units in areas where they are currently not permitted. By educating the local community stakeholders and granting emergency zoning exemptions to the developers to build multi-housing units specifically for the workforce and others, this would increase housing affordability.

Today we are asking for your support in the consideration of these proposed policy changes. Join us in making Knoxville home through affordable housing.