In The Absence of
A nine-part docu-series exploring key housing issues in Memphis, Tennessee.
The story is told by 70(+) people over 2.5 year period.
Memphis has been ravaged by disinvestment, deficit culture, and outdated systems. Generational wealth was stripped away after the 2009 foreclosure crisis, and in its wake, a mass migration toward affordable housing stressed the marketplace.
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Cash-strapped and overstretched, the city had to get smart about tackling some of our nation's most profound questions around social equality.
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Leaning on code enforcement and environmental court, establishing a law clinic, creating public-private partnerships, and collaborating with indigenous leaders throughout the city created a pathway towards uprighting our neighborhoods and turning deficits into assets.
Chapter 1 : How We Got Here
When population flatlines and disinvestment spreads, a city's heartbeat stops. Here is a brief overview of urban renewal, predatory lending, and the foreclosure crisis.
Chapter 3: Bringing the Interest Groups Together
Local leaders realized it would take public, private, and non-profit collaboration to pave a path forward. So, led by the efforts of NPI, together they formed the Blight Elimination Steering Team to lay the groundwork for revitalizing Memphis neighborhoods.
Chapter 5: Code Enforcement
Underfunded and overwhelmed, Memphis and Shelby County had to fix what wasn't working. Early adoption of new technologies was the jolt they needed to wrap their arms around the situation and confront disinvested and neglected properties head-on.
Chapter 7: Stabilizing Neighborhoods
Memphis lacks quality affordable housing. Currently, Memphis is 30,000 units down compared to other similar-sized cities. This lack of quality affordable housing has left some behind. Where do you go when your home is condemned? How do schools survive when the community is gutted and left fallow?
Chapter 9: Community Development and Finance
Memphis lacks quality affordable housing. Currently, Memphis is 30,000 units down compared to other similar-sized cities. This lack of quality affordable housing has left some behind. Where do you go when your home is condemned? How do schools survive when the community is gutted and left fallow?
Chapter 2 : Inventory
How badly was Memphis hit by the recession and pervasive disinvestment? How many homes were foreclosed upon? How do we know where to start? First, the city stepped back and assessed the situation - 25% of all single-family homes had fallen into foreclosure over 10 years.
Chapter 4: Environmental Court
The Memphis and Shelby County Environmental Court was one of the first of its kind in the country. This episode tells the history of the formation of the court and highlights the career of Judge Larry Potter while he transitions leadership of the court to Judge Patrick Dandridge.
Chapter 6: Affordable Housing
Memphis lacks quality affordable housing. Currently, Memphis is 30,000 units down compared to other similar-sized cities. This lack of quality affordable housing has left some behind. Where do you go when your home is condemned? How do schools survive when the community is gutted and left fallow?
Chapter 8: Continuing Education
Memphis lacks quality affordable housing. Currently, Memphis is 30,000 units down compared to other similar-sized cities. This lack of quality affordable housing has left some behind. Where do you go when your home is condemned? How do schools survive when the community is gutted and left fallow?
