MEMPHIS, Tenn. — On Thursday, community leaders met with the public to discuss new solutions to address the lack of affordable housing crisis in Memphis.
According to the U.S. Department for Housing and Urban Development, nearly two out of three Memphians are in need of more affordable housing, often spending at least half their annual income to keep a roof over their heads.
“That just makes a person feel less than human,” said Shadonna Becton, who lives in Frayser and knows what it’s like to live in substandard housing. “You know, you're doing all that you can to say provide quality living.”
It’s a plight housing experts say far too many people in Memphis find themselves in, often living in deplorable conditions because it’s all they can afford.
“We acquired a property that was about 40% occupied when we acquired it, but really no one should have really been living there because of the environmental hazards,” said the Works, Inc. CEO Roshun Austin. “Including led, mold and asbestos.”
Austin was one member of the panel for the affordable housing summit, hosted by the Memphis Urban Land Institute, featuring a mix of city of Memphis and community group leaders.
Organizers say solutions include the recent opening of the Renaissance at Steele Apartments in Frayser, thanks to the efforts of Works, Inc. (on that same property Austin mentioned acquiring). She says rooms have an average rent of around $600 a month.
“We’re up to the highest rent being $725, and that’s a 3-bedroom, two bath and all appliances,” Austin said.
But Austin said that project took four years and having a dedicated funding source is vital to make the process go as fast as possible.
Becton’s home is owned by Pursuit of God Church, which rents out quality apartment complexes to prospective home-buyers.
“We create these affordable-based apartments so that they can use them as a stepping stone in order to purchase homes in the Fraser community,” said property manager Jasper Moore.
But Memphis community groups say they can only shoulder so much of the burden.
“Having a dedicated source for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund that the city established in 2019 will lead more developers to build more affordable housing,” Austin said.
Twarla Guest with the Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development says they are currently in the process of finding a stable source of revenue for that trust fund.
The Works, Inc. will also be opening a senior center across the street from the Renaissance and Steel Apartments in July.
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