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Learn More About Potential Federal Homelessness Funding Cuts
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Looming federal funding cuts to permanent housing programs could end housing assistance for tens of thousands of people nationwide, including some Nashvillians.
The Contributor (https://thecontributor.org/page/15/)
Two years ago, Metro Nashville’s Office of Homeless Services promised “Carrie” and her partner “Greg” housing. What came instead of stable housing were evictions, lost documents and a return to the woods.
Looming federal funding cuts to permanent housing programs could end housing assistance for tens of thousands of people nationwide, including some Nashvillians.
What we didn’t expect was to be so touched and ultimately impressed by the stories that were shared.
Every time the warm breeze blows, an army of crunchy brown leaves comes marching down my street.
If you were to drive one mile south of downtown and hang a left on Anthes Drive which snakes down to the Cumberland River, you would find over 20 acres of land that are now fenced off and flanked with barbed wire and “no trespassing” signs. Over the past 40 years, thousands of unhoused Nashvillians have called this land home. Before it was closed by city officials in June of 2025, the area was endearingly, and somewhat notoriously, known as Old Tent City. On my first visit to the camp in September of 2008, thick morning fog held around trees, emanating from the riverbank. I walked the well-worn footpath with other outreach workers past the Music City Star tracks along an old chain-link fence.
When I saw the trailer for Friendship, I thought it looked like a new, fun Seth Rogen-style comedy about male friendship, male loneliness and male stupidity. Sold!
“I’d say just do the best you can. If you don’t make very much, don’t worry about it. You can always go out the next day and make more then.”