The Chattanooga Housing Authority provided an update regarding housing for those displaced from the Chatt City Suites. With a deadline of Wednesday at 11 a.m. for residents to be out of the hotel, the CHA has issued 42 vouchers to assist residents in their search for housing and has 17 other applicants who are pending approval for vouchers. The CHA has allocated up to 100 housing vouchers for affected individuals at the hotel who were interested in and qualified for CHA’s affordable housing.
Residents typically pay 30 percent of their adjusted gross income for rent and the CHA subsidizes the remaining portion of the rent with voucher subsidies from HUD. Those applying for vouchers go through an application and approval process before vouchers are issued.
Guests were notified two days after Christmas that the property would be shut down for a complete renovation. They were informed that they needed to move by Jan. 15. The CHA appealed to the owner and manager of the property to allow the residents to remain at the hotel until the end of the month to search for housing that the vouchers would support.
CHA Executive Director Elizabeth McCright said, “We are so appreciative to the manager of the Chatt City Suites for working with us to extend the deadline to tomorrow. Working together, we’ve been able to find suitable long-term housing for those impacted by the displacement. We’re also very appreciative to landlords across Hamilton County who’ve come forward to partner with us in accepting vouchers that will pay market-rate rents at their properties.”
Mr. McCright noted that this was a team effort in collaboration with the City, social service agencies, and the faith based community. “In many ways, this unfortunate situation provided a pathway to permanent housing for people who might otherwise never have applied. On average residents of the hotel had incomes of $771 per month and were paying upwards of $600 per month to the hotel. With the vouchers on average the individuals will pay apprimately $221 per month. It’s a win for everyone.”