The Metro Nashville Council approved a contract last week that provides $355,200 to a nonprofit organization to deliver healthcare services to homeless people in the city.
United Neighborhood Health Services (UNHS) will be providing homeless people with “medical, dental, mental health, and substance abuse services at two or more clinics located in or near downtown Nashville.”
According to the contract, the nonprofit is required to provide services to at least 3,500 people.
The contract states dental services must be provided to at least 500 homeless people and at least another 600 must be given mental health and substance abuse services.
Furthermore, UNHS will have a 24-hour emergency call system and provide transportation services to the homeless it serves, the contract says.
The contract will remain in effect until June 30, 2026. The nonprofit is being paid for the services they provided starting July 1, the contract notes.
The council members who sponsored the resolution were Kyonzte Toombs, Jordan Huffman, Ginny Welsch, Terry Vo, and Brenda Gadd.
Since 2005, Nashville has provided a contract to UNHS to help give medical services to homeless people.
The contract between the city and the nonprofit has increased over the years. In 2008, Nashville paid UNHS $163,280.
The increase of $191,920 over 17 years in what the city is paying for these services represents a 118 percent increase.
According to a March Metro Nashville report, 3,570 people experience homelessness in the city. The report noted nearly 50 percent of these individuals experienced homelessness chronically.
Furthermore, 9 percent of the homeless population was veterans, and 7 percent was people between the ages of 18 and 24, the report said.
From March 2024 to March 2025, the report stated 10,286 people experienced homelessness in Nashville.
UNHS is a nonprofit that provides healthcare services to people regardless of their income level.
The nonprofit organization has been in existence since 1976. According to its 2025 Form 990 tax return, the organization lost over $1.1 million, spending $25.7 million while generating only $24.6 million in revenue.
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network. Email tips to Zachery at zschmidt1717@gmail.com.
