MEMPHIS, Tenn. — UPDATE 10/28/2021 - The third annual State of Memphis Housing Summit kicked off Thursday.
This year's theme was a "roadmap to equitable revitalization."
The mayors of Memphis, Jackson, Mississippi, and Little Rock, Arkansas responded to challenges of distributing funds and getting them out to people that desperately need.
Memphis Major Jim Strickland said getting information out to the public is difficult especially for those that are disconnected, but that city governments are the best at getting money to people that need it the most.
"City governments are the best at get money out on the street of any level governments. We are smaller than state governments and federal governments more nimble, and we also see a need for it on a daily basis,” said Strickland.
Mayor Strickland went on to say he wants Memphis to be a city where everyone can live no matter how much they make.
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10/27/2021 - A summit is being held Thursday on the state of the Memphis housing. This year's theme is a ‘roadmap to equitable revitalization.’
This event will be virtual so you will need to register online HERE. It runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The virtual event will cover a very special conversation between Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland and his counterparts in Jackson, Mississippi, and Little Rock, Arkansas, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and housing challenges such as homelessness, rental market instability, and neighborhood changes.
It will also look at preventing the spread of predatory housing schemes, health impacts on housing instability, addressing blight at the root, and more.
"People that are struggling with homelessness, I encourage them to reach out to MIFA because they do have rapid re-housing,” said Ashley Cash, Director, City Of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development. “We want to make sure that no one has to live in substantial conditions. But as it relates to the summit absolutely. So, we are talking about housing health. So, how does your housing instability, your ability to have safe, affordable decent housing really impact your health, impact your livelihood."