Chattanooga, Tenn. (June 30, 2025) - In their newly released ‘State and
Local Housing Action Plan,’
<https://nationalhousingcrisis.org/app/uploads/2025/06/State-and-Local-Housing-Action-Plan.pdf>
the National Housing Crisis Task Force uses Chattanooga’s affordable
housing PILOT reform and the city’s creation of Invest Chattanooga as
models for other governments to follow in response to the national
affordable housing crisis.
“In Chattanooga, we’ve recognized the national housing crisis as the number
one issue affecting our residents, and we’re stepping up to lead,” said Mayor
Tim Kelly. “We will see more housing that’s attainable for working
Chattanoogans like our teachers, firefighters and service workers because
of our reforms of our zoning code and tax incentives, along with the
creation of Invest Chattanooga. We still have a long way to go, but this
national recognition is validation that our housing policy team, lead by
Nicole Heyman, is moving us in the right direction.”
The National Housing Crisis Task Force was launched in 2024 by Drexel
University’s Nowak Metro Finance Lab and Accelerator for America. Among its
members <https://nationalhousingcrisis.org/who-we-are/> are multiple
mayors, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, and many leading voices in housing
policy, including The New Localism co-author Bruce Katz.
Under Mayor Kelly, Chattanooga has instituted a number of policies and
programs to make housing more affordable in Chattanooga, including:
Invest Chattanooga <https://www.investchattanooga.org/>
Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Affordable Housing Incentive Reform
<https://www.nlc.org/article/2025/01/13/chattanoogas-pilot-reimagined-honing-a-powerful-housing-tool/>
First Zoning Reform Since 1960s
<https://www.chattanoogapulse.com/local-news/political-news/chattanooga-passes-historic-zoning-reform-after-three-years-/>
Attainable Housing Voluntary Incentives
<https://ttc.tml1.org/2025/01/30/chattanooga-becomes-first-tennessee-city-use-new-voluntary-attainable-housing-incentives>(in
partnership with Sen. Gardenhire)
Eviction Prevention Initiative
<https://www.wutc.org/2024-06-12/curbing-evictions-in-chattanooga-and-hamilton-county>
Down Payment Assistance
<https://newschannel9.com/news/local/chattanooga-to-launch-new-home-buyer-grant-and-loan-program-at-affordable-housing-resource-fair>
Accessory Dwelling Unit by Right Ordinance
<https://chattanooga.gov/stay-informed/latest-news/chattanooga-homeowners-can-now-build-accessory-dwelling-units-their>
Short Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Reform
<https://chattanoogachamber.com/chattanooga-passes-short-term-vacation-rental-reform/>