NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The clock is ticking for one of Nashville's largest homeless encampments. On Monday, Metro announced plans to close Old Tent City.

As the city prepares to close Old Tent City, which is just outside downtown on Anthes Drive, some who've called the encampment home have started to figure out what's next.

Dicky Heath, who has been experiencing homelessness and has lived in the encampment for the last seven years, was given a notice Monday. He told News 2 the notice brought about many emotions, even though he has been working toward moving into permanent housing.

"It made me mad and upset," said Heath. "I've got family and friends; it's just like a family home down here."

Heath said he's been trying to get the right documents together, but has had setbacks, including when it rained on the copies he had.

"All my papers and stuff got wet and my birth certificate got messed up," Heath said.

News 2 was at the camp late last year when Metro tore down several make-shift homes.
Despite that, Metro's Office of Homeless Services estimates that as of publication, around 125 people still live there.

After Monday's notice, those camping there have 60 days to leave. Outreach and caseworkers will offer help starting this week — including temporary housing, recovery programs and reuniting with family members.

"We operated 46 nights of cold weather shelters this year and were able to see frontline of how dire this situation is," OHS director April Calvin said. "The majority of them have asked, 'When will housing be made available to me?' They ask my outreach team that quite often at Anthes Drive. It is a wonderful thing, we want to celebrate this."

According to March 2025 data from OHS, 32% of Nashville's homeless population faces chronic homelessness.

"We're also working with them on things that they need for housing, like helping agencies connect them with documents like birth certificates [and] photo IDs," said Calvin.

The closure of the encampment is one Heath told News 2 would be difficult, but he's hopeful it will mean he'll have a place to call home.

"I'll be happy if I get it," said Heath.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/old-tent-city-to-close/