Posted Saturday, April 6, 2019, 9:52 pm
Special to the Banner
Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee is directing $15,500 in grant funding to Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland, to build one new home in the Cleveland and Bradley County community.
The funding comes as part of a $500,000 grant from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland and its sister organizations throughout the state will apply the grant toward the construction of 30 new homes for low-income families.
"We are extremely grateful for THDA's partnership and support,” said Colleen Dudley, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee. “This THDA grant provides us with a solid foundation to spur our larger fundraising efforts, which will reach $3 million from individuals, churches, foundations and businesses to complete these builds.”
Local Habitat chapters may apply for $15,500 per build in THDA funding from the grant. When construction is complete in June 2019, more than 100 adults and children will be living in high-quality, energy-efficient homes built in part from this funding.
“We share Habitat’s mission and its passion for creating new homeownership opportunities to Tennessee families, so it’s a very natural partnership,” said THDA executive director Ralph M. Perrey. “We’re always confident that Habitat is going to put our funding to good use. I’m sure more than a few THDA staffers will be among the volunteers at build sites across the state.”
In addition to supporting Habitat for Humanity with grant funding, THDA also provides zero-interest home loans to qualified Habitat homeowners. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage that, in turn, helps fund future Habitat builds.
Habitat for Humanity is propelled by a vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat for Humanity began in Tennessee in 1978 when Appalachia Habitat was created serving Scott and Morgan counties. The Christian housing organization has grown over the past 40 years to include 45 affiliates that serve 62 counties. Tennessee is ranked the fourth largest builder of Habitat for Humanity homes in the country.
Funding for the $500,000 THDA grant came from the Tennessee Housing Trust Fund which receives no state tax dollars, but is instead funded by revenue from THDA’s mortgage loan program. Since 2006, THDA has provided more than $75 million in THTF grants.
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