Solving affordable housing is no easy task. Just look around the country. Look around the state.
Substantial sums of money have been allocated nationwide to alleviating the shortage of affordable housing.
In 2021, in response to the need for affordable housing exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government provided $90 billion to boost housing assistance across the country, an increase of almost 70% from the previous year.
But even with big money thrown at the problem, creating an adequate supply of affordable housing stock is out of reach for many cities.
Nicole Heyman, Chattanooga’s chief housing officer, said the city currently has a deficit of 1,700 housing units that are affordable to working families making $35,000 or less. So where do we start?