KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Knoxville City Council recently approved a grant to fund another affordable housing development as leaders work to keep up with growing demand and high occupancy rates.
“We’re going to have to build about 1,200 new units every year in order to keep up with demand,” said Second District Representative Andrew Roberto. With the need for affordable housing on the rise, Roberto said working with private developers is crucial for meeting the demand.
“By helping bridge gaps between what can be afforded and making things affordable,” he said. “Then we’re able to help developers build these projects that we need and make them affordable for a long period of time for people who live here and people who are moving here.”
List: Affordable housing projects in development around Knoxville
Earlier this month, city council approved a $1.44 million grant from the affordable rental development fund to go towards John Huber’s Helpful Housing.
“We are going to be developing a 98-unit apartment complex that will house folks that have incomes that are 60% or less of the area median income in the Knoxville area,” said Huber.