Chattanoogans call for city action on affordable housing crisis

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Nikki Lake, of CALEB, speaks during the event. Chattanoogans in Action for Love, Equality & Benevolence held a news conference Thursday on the Chattanooga City Hall steps to offer a public response to the city's housing action plan, which Mayor Tim Kelly released in August.

The statistics paint a dire picture.

​Between 2016 and 2021, one out of every four rental homes became unaffordable to households earning $35,000, according to data from the group Chattanoogans in Action for Love, Equality & Benevolence. Since 2021, the cost of rent has increased 30% — outpacing the 13% growth in household incomes.

Now, community members are hoping city leaders can do something about it. Chanting "homes for all," members of CALEB stood on the steps of City Hall on Thursday evening to call on Chattanooga leaders to follow through with policy goals outlined in an affordable housing action plan released by Mayor Tim Kelly's office in August.

"I live in Highland Park just a few miles from here, where a lot of my neighbors who have lived in that neighborhood for decades, especially people of color, are being priced out," April Berends, the rector of Grace Episcopal Church, said during the news conference.

Specifically, they want the city to dedicate a consistent revenue stream for an affordable housing trust fund, form a local mortgage pool to expand access to homeownership and use public subsidies to increase citywide housing options. They're urging community members to speak in support of these measures at the upcoming City Council meeting at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at 1000 Lindsay St. More information is available at calebcha.org/housing.

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Chattanoogans call for city action on affordable housing crisis