Tennessee Voices, Episode 323: Eddie Latimer, CEO, Affordable Housing Resources

• David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee.

In 2015, citizens who participated in the NashvilleNext long-term community planning experience identified affordable housing as their No. 1 concern.

Seven years later, it continues to be the top concern among residents in a city that is booming and where the prosperity gap has grown between people of means and those who survive on low incomes, which comprises 44% of the population.

A consistent vocal presence in keeping Music City honest about the affordable housing challenge is Eddie Latimer, CEO of Affordable Housing Resources.

The nonprofit developer's mission is to build affordable housing and create strong neighborhoods, but these efforts have faced many headwinds: fast-rising home prices and rents, supply chain delays affecting the price of materials, labor shortages and costs, and, recently, increasing interest rates, which are keeping home ownership out of reach for many Americans.

On this episode of the Tennessee Voices video podcast, Latimer talked about his work and his efforts to try to move the city in the right direction.

In a recent guest opinion column, he pleaded with members of the Metro Council to get past disagreements and traditions and keep their focus: "At this time, Nashville needs every affordable housing unit we can get."

Affordable housing is a problem across the state and the nation and Latimer's experience may be helpful to other communities struggling to find a solution.

More:How Nashville is missing an opportunity to grow its affordable housing supply | Opinion

Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns.

Sign up for Latino Tennessee Voices newsletter: Read compelling stories for and with the Latino community in Tennessee. 

Sign up for Black Tennessee Voices newsletter: Read compelling columns by Black writers from across Tennessee. 

About Tennessee Voices

The Tennessee Voices videocast is a 20-minute program, which started in March 2020 and invites leaders, thinkers and innovators who have written guest columns for a USA TODAY Network Tennessee publication to share their insights and wisdom with me and our viewers.

Watch past episodes: Tennessee Voices videocast

Please email your ideas for future guests to me at dplazas@tennessean.com. Thank you for watching.

Finally, our journalists are working hard during this pandemic to bring you accurate, verified and solid information. Please consider subscribing and supporting local journalism. 

David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee and an editorial board member of The Tennessean. Tweet to him at @davidplazas.