Gentrification Is Not Gentle

by

NASHVILLE, Tenn.––“Gentrification” –– The word has a nice ring to it. Derived from “gentry,” the root word refers to people of gentle birth, good breeding or high social position.

Of course, gentrification means deteriorated urban houses are transformed into middle and upper class homes.

Property values increase and people who purchased homes take home handsome profits.

What could be wrong with that?

Renters lose

Everything is wrong if you are renting property.

The landlord gives you notice that you cannot renew your lease and you are given a move-out day. Because of the increase in property values, you can no longer afford to live in the community you have called home for decades.

Every month more renters in west Nashville are moving away from the community affectionately known as “The Nation’s Neighborhood.” While most of the streets are named for U.S. states, the name comes from the Chickasaw Nations tribe who lived in the area in the 1700s.

The Rev. Jason Brock, pastor of 61st Ave. United Methodist Church in the Nations, drives a van around Nashville picking up people from pockets of affordable housing for a Saturday evening supper and worship service, many of them having experienced homelessness recently or in the past. But the number of neighborhood residents attending the service is in a steep decline. Although the Hispanic congregation that worships in the church on Sunday mornings is growing, fewer persons are attending from the neighborhood as families move farther west to find more affordable living options.

Even property owners lose

Even those who own homes find the money they receive for their house will not purchase another house in the neighborhood.

Brenda Hix, lay leader of the 61st Avenue UMC, used to walk two blocks to serve as volunteer treasurer and assistant to the pastor of the 50-member congregation.

Brenda received $150,000 for the home she was purchasing for $50,000, but the purchase price was not sufficient to buy a new home in the neighborhood. She now lives 32 miles away in White Bluff, and she is no longer able to volunteer the six hours a day she did when she lived two blocks from the church.

Aging in poverty grant

61st Ave. Church received a $4,000 grant from the Committee on Older Adult Ministries of Discipleship Ministries. Those funds provide emergency monies for people who cannot afford to pay utility bills or who need funds to purchase medicine. They also provide funds for a quarterly gathering of seniors for lunch, devotions, information and games.

"Many of the seniors and other long-time residents live on the edge economically, and small amounts of funding and food help them make it through the month and stay in housing," said Brock.

“We see Nashville prospering in many ways, and with gentrification the neighborhood benefits as it gets more attention and better service from businesses, utilities, and the local government.  However, as lower to middle income families relocate, my fear is that many may face homelessness or hardship as the city is not replacing the affordable homes as high dollar houses take their place.  Even more frightening is the possibility that many of our regulars around town in the affordable ‘pockets’ may become homeless again as those pockets get smaller and fewer in number.  We have nice enough neighbors moving into Nashville and the Nations, but our prayers go with those nice neighbors who are moving out."

Reasons for the grants

“We are very proud of the work 61st Avenue Church is doing,” said Dr. William Randolph, director of the Office on Aging for Discipleship Ministries, who developed these grants along with the Committee on Older Adult Ministries, an inter-agency United Methodist task force. 

“The original purpose of the Aging in Poverty Grants was to assist churches in addressing real forms of older adult poverty in their communities, said Randolph. “We wanted to partner with churches to develop models which can be easily adapted by other churches, whose communities face similar circumstances. The grants are also designed to call attention to the many forms of hidden poverty and opportunities for older adults to serve their neighbors, communities, and church.”

Randolph says potential grant recipients were required to document how their ministry affected older adults and how older adults were involve in the ministry.

The Rev. Rich Peck is a clergy member of New York Annual Conference and a representative of the General Commission on United Methodist Men to the inter-agency Committee on Older Adult Ministries.