What are Strategic Initiatives?
Reflecting our new vision and strategic plan, we have committed to a strategic deployment of resources aimed at root causes of Chattanooga’s most critical issues. As we lean into our role as a convener, we’re looking for new partnerships and solutions to meet the ever-evolving needs of our neighbors.
Our Strategic Initiatives Committee (composed of board staff) guides a flexible, collaborative, and proactive grantmaking process built around strong partnerships that address the root causes of challenges in our area. Currently, we’re working to address homelessness through the Eviction Prevention Initiative (EPI) and the burden of court-enforced debt through a partnership with The Pew Charitable Trusts.
1300+
individuals have avoided eviction through legal representation.
168+
households avoided homelessness through case management
$1.6M
in relief accessed from federal and privately-raised sources
Debt
As we’ve learned more about how to unlock pathways to economic mobility in Chattanooga, we continue to see how the burden of debt can severely limit a family’s ability to find economic security and thrive.
Working with The Pew Charitable Trusts and leaders in our local civil justice system, we are learning how consumer debt impacts economic mobility in our area and finding collaborative solutions to reduce that harm to our neighbors, courts, and small businesses. to the burden of debt.
Eviction Prevention Initiative (EPI)
EPI provides legal counsel for renters during an eviction case and coordinates resources that make landlords financially whole while supporting housing stability for the tenant through case management.
Attorneys and social workers help secure federal relief on behalf of landlords and tenants. They also leverage privately raised funding to pay court costs and fees and negotiate settlements on behalf of tenants whose households are below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level and who demonstrate the opportunity for housing stabilization.
The primary goals of EPI are
To prevent evictions and increase stability through legal representation, case management, and access to coordinated funding.
To collect and share data to inform the scope of the current eviction crisis and inform policy solutions, while increasing community education and awareness around housing issues and affordability in our
Strategic Service: Lorie Runge and Dr. Dave Bhattacharya
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