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A resolution supporting the Davidson County General Sessions Court in creating a Winter Storm Housing Support Docket to keep as many people in their homes as possible.
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WHEREAS, on January 24 and 25, 2026, a winter storm struck Nashville and Davidson County and caused widespread property damage, and power outages; and
WHEREAS, both Mayor Freddie O'Connell and Governor Bill Lee have declared states of Emergency in Davidson County because of the dangerous conditions brought on by the storm; and
WHEREAS, more than 230,000 customers of Nashville Electric Service were without power at some point after the storm, representing nearly half of the utility's customers. Power was not restored to all Nashville and Davidson County residents for at least two weeks after the storm began; and
WHEREAS, because of the widespread power outages and the extreme cold temperatures, many residents had to decide between paying for alternative housing for warmth or staying at home in the cold to be able to afford regular expenses; and
WHEREAS, due to the outages, many wage workers could not report to work as businesses remained closed and events were cancelled. Many citizens went without their regular or expected paychecks; and
WHEREAS, the emergency did not end for the most vulnerable of Nashville and Davidson County, even after electricity was restored. With rent payments proceeding as normal, even without expected pay and with additional expenses just to survive, many Nashvillians face the threat of eviction; and
WHEREAS, beyond the immediate destabilization that evictions cause, having an eviction on one's records can make finding future housing even more difficult; and
WHEREAS, this crisis is being addressed in part in a variety of ways, including the allocation of $1,000,000 to the Emergency Winter Housing Assistance Program by public and private sources. Existing resources, such as the Eviction Right to Counsel program, will also help stem the tide of evictions, whether...
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