On the steps of the Historic Courthouse and City Hall, Rebuilding Together Nashville and the General Sessions Court of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County announced the launch of the Environmental Court partnership. This innovative partnership provides a new pathway to convert qualifying codes cases into completed repairs, verified compliance, and case dismissal, allowing longtime Nashvillians, particularly cost-burdened older adults, to remain safely in the homes they love.
Under the new partnership, the Environmental Court will refer eligible cases to Rebuilding Together to scope the work and complete the needed repairs. Next, Metro Codes will inspect the work, and the Court will dismiss the case once violations are resolved. Thanks to the support of organizations like The West End Home Foundation, this first-of-its-kind city partnership solves a longstanding issue for Nashville, while requiring no new public dollars.
“We have always been deeply rooted in Nashville and the housing needs of our neighbors, and we are thrilled to partner in this innovative way,” said Andrea Prince, CEO of Rebuilding Together Nashville. “City codes are important and intended to protect resident safety and neighborhood standards, but needed repairs shouldn’t cascade into fines or liens for an older homeowner on a fixed income. This partnership uses the right tool – the repairs we do every day- to keep our neighbors safe and in compliance.”
Mayor O’Connell, who gave remarks at the launch event, called the new partnership “a great example of how government, nonprofits, and private philanthropy can work together to solve a persistent problem. This is Unified Housing Strategy in action – preserving the homes we already have while we work to grow supply. When we fix what’s broken and keep people housed, every neighborhood benefits.”