Thriving Nashville says it won't open homeless shelters, prompting outcry

Citing a lack of funding and resources, the city of Nashville announced Monday during an Emergency Weather Committee and Stakeholder meeting that it would not reopen winter emergency shelters for those experiencing homelessness. 

The decision, first reported by the Nashville Scene, prompted outcry from Metro Council members, outreach organizations and many on social media in a city where property values are rising and tourism-fueled tax collections continued to increase. 

Nashville's thriving economy in the past decade inspired the "it city" reputation, drawing not only millions of tourists and thousands of new residents but also Fortune 500 companies looking to settle here. 

The unprecedented growth has come at a cost, and the "New Nashville" has encountered budget issues impacting salaries for teachers and police officers, as well as funding for public transit and social services. 

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In a January 2019 count, volunteers and shelter officials counted 1,401 people in shelters and 585 on the streets of Nashville. 

The decision to not open cold-weather homeless shelters is poised to be the next example of a prosperous city struggling with the most basic civil services. 

On Wednesday evening, new Mayor John Cooper said he was aware of the decision and plans to meet with the Department of Social Services to discuss it.

"We are committed to ensuring that vulnerable residents are taken care of in a cold weather situation," a statement on the mayor's Twitter account said. 

Cooper's office will meet with the Department of Social Services on Thursday "to discuss shelter availability and to receive an update on the impact of previous budget decisions that led to this situation."