Metro Social Services-Planning & Coordination - Events, Newsletter, etc.

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Metropolitan Social Services

Planning & Coordination/Social Data Analysis Newsletter
front cover 2014 community needs evaluation

The Extent and Shape of Nashville's Poverty

On April 28, 2015, Metro Social Services-Planning & Coordination/Social Data Analysis will release the 2014 Community Needs Evaluation. 

Copies of the 2014 Community Needs Evaluation's Executive Summary will be distributed to participants, and the event will briefly present the findings of the 6th annual needs evaluation. 

The Extent and Shape of Nashville's Poverty will be held at the Nashville Public Library downtown and will feature demographic, social, socioeconomic and poverty data on Davidson County's residents.  In addition, it will discuss needs in Aging & Disability, Food & Nutrition, Health & Human Development, Housing & Neighborhoods and Workforce & Economic Opportunity.

Advance registration is required before April 15.  Registration and additional information are available online.

Ride 2 Thrive Logo

3rd Annual

 Ride

2

Thrive

On Saturday, April 18, Metro Social Services will host Ride 2 Thrive from Noon to 6 pm, at Cumberland Park, 592 South First Street. 

The event will feature free food, entertainment, kids' zone, music, door prizes, zumba, motorcycle and corvette showcase, face painting, health screening and MORE!

Ride 2 Thrive is sponsored by Metro Social Services, National Black Police Association-Nashville Chapter, Tennessee Biker Education Association, Metro Parks and Recreation, Piccadilly Restaurant and Save-A-Lot Food Stores.

 

metro parks logo

Classes from

Metro Parks & Recreation

The Metropolitan Department of Parks & Recreation sponsors numerous classes at facilities across Davidson County.  These include aquatics, dance, fitness, kayaking, music, skating, tennis, theater and visual arts.

Details available online.

 
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Reducing Child Poverty in the U.S.

On January 30, 2015, the Urban Institute released Reducing Child Poverty in the U.S. - Costs and Impacts of Policies Proposed by the Children's Defense Fund.  This new report described the large portion of children who live in poverty and provided recommendations on how to reduce poverty through policy changes. 

It encourages the use of the Supplemental Poverty Measure, created for research purposes, which includes factors in addition to those used by the older official poverty measure that includes only cash income and number in the household.

Costs and Impacts provides specific policy recommendations in various areas, which focus on increasing income, modification to guidelines for SNAP/Food Stamps, housing vouchers, TANF/Families First and access to child care subsidies for low-income working families. 

Reducing Child Poverty in the U.S. is available online.

A VOICE logo

A VOICE

 

for the Reduction of Poverty presents a Community Forum on Affordable and Equitable Housing

 The grassroots education and advocacy organization, A VOICE for the Reduction of Poverty in Nashville, is hosting a public event to educate Davidson County residents about issues related to affordable and equitable housing. 

 According to A VOICE, "Population growth and higher land costs, coupled with the gentrification of urban neighborhoods, have dramatically reduced the availability of affordable housing options for the average family. While luxurious high-rises catering to the economically advantaged are rising throughout our city, the availability of affordable housing has correspondingly decreased, with little relief on the horizon. Many working families cannot afford safe and adequate housing, since more than 25,000 Nashville families have incomes less than $25,000."

With 54% of renters and almost half of homeowners spending more than 30% of their incomes on housing expenses, "There is a critical need to develop affordable housing options located in safe, socially and economically mixed neighborhoods. Other cities have successfully done this ... it is time we more intentionally address this growing, unmet need," A VOICE notes. 

The Community Forum will be held at 6 pm (registration/social time at 5:30 pm) on Monday, March 16 at the Martha O'Bryan Center, 711 South 7th Street.  The public is welcome to attend and learn more about issues and strategies to promote housing that is affordable by those with lower household incomes.

At the event, A VOICE will also discuss its two position papers on affordable housing.