Christmas comes early to Habitat

Posted Tuesday, October 4, 2022 4:00 pm

By ALLEN MINCEY, Cleveland Daily Banner

With the recent arrival of October, Christmas may be the furtherest thing on people’s minds, but not at Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland’s ReStore.

Deborah Flower, coordinator of the the Christmas section of the ReStore, aided by her husband, are Habitat Heroes and annually gather a group of volunteers to decorate Christmas trees and set up displays at “The Christmas Shoppe.” She and those volunteers began putting out the Christmas items as early as mid-September.

Flower, who is a retired kindergarten teacher, volunteers for this event, but it turns out to be not just a seasonal “job,” but a year-round endeavor.

“I have done this since 2010 and I am known as ‘the Christmas Lady,’ though ‘Holiday Lady’ is probably more appropriate as I am in charge of every holiday that comes down the pike,” Flower said.

Trees, lights and decorations are not the only holiday items the Habitat ReStore has available. There are also Christmas wreaths, linens, clothes, knickknacks, yard art, candles, china and glassware.

Flower said preparing for Christmas begins almost immediately as that holiday ends, as she begins collecting ornaments and other items that many will donate to the ReStore after having them on display for the current season.

“I separate all holiday-themed items from the everyday donations throughout the year,” she said. “The items are then cleaned, organized and placed in separate totes according to the holiday.”

All of the holiday items are stored in two semitrailer rigs behind the rear of the store at 300 Grove Ave. SW and get pulled out around as the summer ends and fall begins.

A shopper at the ReStore might find items for Valentine’s Day, Easter or Fourth of July, though the biggest holiday for shoppers there is Christmas.

“All year long, I have saved unique and special Christmas decorations and once a year, I have some creative friends come and decorate the trees,” she said.

This past week, friends from the Ridgewood Subdivision — Mary Ellen Stinchfield and Pat Love — came and helped Flower with tree decorations. Flower also celebrates the holiday in the subdivision each year, usually dressed as Lady Liberty with her husband, who often portrays Uncle Sam.

A couple of weeks before, volunteers from Candies Creek Baptist Church helped at what is commonly called “Deb’s Winter Wonderland.”

All of the items for sale have been donated to Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland to help fund home-building projects, and each year staff, customers and volunteers look forward to the holiday.

“Everyone has the opportunity to give a ‘hands up’ for hope in our community by using their skills through such volunteer efforts,” Flower said. “All proceeds are put toward a house for a deserving homeowner.”

In fact, the most recent homeowners — the Cullins family — will have their new home in Morelock Meadows dedicated on Oct. 10. It will be the first in that new subdivision, which also will include a quad to house four families, and other subsequent homes to be built in 2023.

“Deb’s Christmas Shoppe,” Flower said, “brings in people who would not normally come to the ReStore, as they can find Christmas decorations cheaper here than in other stores.” It also give those shoppers an idea of the other bargains at the ReStore.

For more information about the Christmas items available and ReStore, call 423-473-4610. To find out more about Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland, visit www.habitatofcleveland.org.

Habitat for Humanity donates property to City Fields

By ALLEN MINCEY, Cleveland Daily Banner

Even though their organizations help in different ways, Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland and City Fields both are helping get local residents into new homes.

On Tuesday, Sept. 6, the organizations came together as Habitat presented its deed to property on High Street to City Fields.

Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland Executive Director Tammy Johnson and City Fields Director Dustin Tommey made the exchange.

“Dustin approached me a couple of months ago and said that they were going to be building over in that area,” Johnson said. “He said that's our new focus area and wanted to know if we were going to use the small lot that's over there.”

Johnson said Habitat officials looked closely at the property, located between 2nd and 3rd streets, and that group decided it was a better fit for City Fields, a Cleveland not-for-profit community development corporation.

Tommey said the property will help City Fields expand into the College Hill area.

“We are going to build a single-family home on it,” Tommey said. “Not this year. We got our hands full this year.”

City Fields is building nine homes in 2022, with the most recent on Wilson Street finished and two on 13th Street Southeast nearing completion. Two others on Wilson Street are in the building stages.

“We're going to try to piece together some other strategic spots that are also vacant and try to develop more single-family homes in that area that will bring stability — and families that are living there long term.”

The size of the lot had much to do with the donation, as Johnson said City Fields is able to work within smaller plats with subcontractors, while Habitat needs more room to accommodate a large number of volunteers and the recipient families who help through "sweat equity."

“We can tend to bring up to 200 volunteers to one job site,” she explained. “So we have to have the parking spaces so we have the ability to host our corps volunteers that come out on Tuesday and Thursday. We have to have the ability to host sponsor groups that bring 10 or more people to help build.”

Presently, Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland is working in the Morelock Meadows area near Blythe-Bower Elementary School. Johnson said Habitat soon will reach its 150th home locally since inception about 30 years ago.

“What City Fields is doing is a wonderful addition to our community,” Johnson said. “They are providing a service that is much needed in revitalizing the downtown area.”

Added Tommey: “Habitat and our work is really important as together we work to accomplish the goal of providing affordable housing to our community."

Cleveland Habitat’s director wins state 'leader of the year' award

By ANNA SHAND, Cleveland Daily Banner

During the Habitat Tennessee state conference this week, Cleveland’s own Executive Director Tammy Johnson was recognized as the "leader of the year".

“I am very honored. I'm very humbled. I'm very shocked,” Johnson said at a ceremony today, July 28. “I am very, very clear that there are two things that are needed to make a good leader, and the first is God's direction. I seek His direction for every single thing I do. … The second thing is this team that I'm surrounded by. There is no way I would be here and no way I would have taken this job if I hadn’t known the board, the core volunteers, our donors, the community and the staff that I was going to be working with — we have an exceptional group.”

Patty Silverman, former president of Cleveland's Habitat board of directors, said multiple awards are given every year at the state Habitat conferences. Out of 40 affiliates in the state of Tennessee, Johnson was chosen as the No. 1 leader this year.

“During my tenure as president, which I've just stepped off of, our executive committee decided that we wanted to nominate our Tammy for an award,” Silverman said.

Silverman said Johnson is a hero every single day in the community.

“This woman right here is our hero every day at Cleveland Habitat for Humanity. And we love her. She's not only a great leader, but she's a great friend to all of us,” Silverman said. “And every day, I am just inspired as I see the way she just figures things out. And during the pandemic, when many Habitats in our state did not make it, ours exceeded expectations. We are in a better financial place than we have been in years, and I really attribute it all to this woman right here. So we are blessed to have her. We love her.”

Habitat of Cleveland affiliates — construction volunteers, staff, board members and donors — came together Thursday to throw a surprise party for Johnson.

New Habitat program offers relief to senior homeowners

By ANNA SHAND, Cleveland Daily Banner

Habitat for Humanity Cleveland is launching a new program, Aging in Place (AIP), to help senior homeowners with repairs or modifications.

“Aging in place” refers to the idea that many seniors want to stay in their homes as they age. Many, however, have concerns about safety, getting around and performing daily activities. Small repairs implemented by the AIP program aim to make their homes safer and foster independent living.

Habitat Executive Director Tammy Johnson revealed the new program on July 14 at the Cleveland/Bradley County Chamber of Commerce.

“We are passionate about this program,” Johnson said. “I know firsthand what this kind of need is, and I know there are people in our community who don't have family who can help. … There are a lot of people who don't have resources. And so we want to provide some resources that are a little bit more about making the home accessible.”

According to AARP, nearly 19 million Americans live in homes that are in disrepair or inadequate for their needs and are unable to access resources to make them livable. These issues, AARP said, often keep them isolated and unable to access supportive services.

Much of the nation’s housing inventory also lacks basic accessibility features such as a no-step entrance or extra-wide doorways, AARP said.

The Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability reported in 2020 that 20% of Bradley County’s homeowners 65 and older were "housing burdened." Of the 19,422 residents at the time who were 65 and older, 26% of them had difficulty walking and 26% lived alone.

Bethany Souza, the Habitat coordinator for AIP, said the new program is evidence based and person centered.

“The aging population is the fastest-growing population,” Souza said. “Statistics show that more than 10,000 Americans turn 60 every day. It's definitely going to be increasing in difficulty to serve these people. We definitely want to get these programs out there, because the need is greater than ever.”

The AIP program is fully funded and will come at no cost to applicants. Due to grant money and volunteers, the only expense residents will face is a $20 application fee — which goes straight to a background check, Souza said.

Qualified applicants will be assessed to determine which repairs or modifications are most helpful to them. Repairs could include the installation of handrails, wheelchair ramps, heightened toilet seats, shower grab bars or wheelchair-accessible doorways.

Eligibility for the program is determined by the following factors: Applicants must own and live in their home full time, must own no other property than their home, must be 60 or older, must live in Bradley County, must be current on mortgage and property taxes, and must have a household income that falls within 60% of the area median income.

Souza is hoping to partner with local churches, nonprofits and health agencies to better serve the aging population.

ORBA team starts building first 2022 Habitat home

From STAFF REPORTS, Cleveland Daily Banner

Area homebuilders put their skills to use last week and framed the first of five homes being built for Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland.

The group representing the Ocoee Region Builders Association donated time to frame the home at Morelock Meadows. Those volunteers also donated their services to roof and deck the single-family house, and make surfaces weather resistant.

The ORBA build is in the new subdivision at 133 Foster Lane SE, across the street from Blythe Bower Elementary School. This first single-family Habitat home here will be built for the James and Jessica Cullins family.

Jessica Cullins joined the ORBA team last week to work on the family’s “sweat equity” hours ⏤ a requirement for each Habitat homeowner.

The Cullins family has three sons, Jaheaven, Jahalen and Ju’sayaus, and a daughter, Jaliyssa. They also have a son, Ryan, who lives on his own. Another son, Jaheim, passed away in November 2018 at age 15.

They said they were excited to live right across the street from the school.

“We will not squander our gift of being a new homeowner," the family patriarch said. "This is one chance in a million that you get this. It’s not only that we don’t just take the gift and put it to the side. What we’re gonna do is build on it.”

Charlotte Peak, ORBA executive officer and incoming president of the Home Builders Association of Tennessee, has been instrumental in coordinating the team of volunteer construction experts. This home also will be sponsored by Chick-fil-A, which donated $37,500 from fundraising.

Peak spoke at the recent groundbreaking and said, “What a poignant day and moment to be building in a subdivision named for a dedicated volunteer, that I worked beside many times and many years, Jeff Morelock. We are so excited to be building the first home with Chick-fil-A, here in Morelock Meadows for the Cullins family. Together, we lobby for affordable housing.”

Added Keith Jones, 2022 ORBA president: “ORBA has been a community partner with Habitat for Humanity, advocating for affordable housing since its inception with Bob Sain. Together, we have built over 17 homes.

“We are excited to build this home, and for the impact it will have on this family through homeownership. Habitat’s motto of a “hand up, not a hand out” resonates through Bradley County as a model for all. Their requirement for direct involvement from the families who become the owner of these homes is the best example of personal investment, and it is what sets Habitat apart. This is what builds thriving communities and ORBA is proud to be a sponsor of this home.”

Women of Habitat helping build futures

By ALLEN MINCEY, Cleveland Daily Banner

Don't tell the women of Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland they can't hammer nails, saw boards and pour concrete. Three of them also lead the organization.

Executive Director Tammy Johnson is the first woman to head the organization in its 32 years; Immediate Past Board President Patty Silverman was the first woman to serve in the top role; and Lisa Mantooth is the incoming board president.

“You know what's interesting is I actually never really even thought about it until [as reporter] brought it up,” Johnson said. “I thought of Patty and thought, well, Patti is our first female board president but hadn’t thought about me.

Johnson said she once spoke with a former board member “who jokingly said to me ... 'a man always needs to run Habitat. It doesn't need to be run by women.' And I just laughed it off at the time. What's funny is since I've been back, I told that same person ... remember when you said a man always needs to run Habitat?”

The man responded that she might be running it even better.

“I have always tried to work hard and be a person of character and integrity and try to make things better than when I found them,” Johnson said. “I would never want this job if it were just to fill a female checkmark. I would want to be selected for this job because the board felt like I was capable and can do a good job.”

Many have praised the work that Johnson has done with Habitat, not the least of whom are Mantooth and Silverman.

“My goodness, I've known Tammy for so long and to watch her grow and thrive in this role and to watch our Habitat to thrive and grow. I mean, who would have thought that we would be working on a brand new neighborhood this year just so close after COVID,” Mantooth said. “It's not stopped us and I think it's because of her leadership and hard drive and her passion for what we do.”

“Tammy has done such a good job leading us at Habitat,” Silverman agreed. “Her passion for this group is seen every day, and it shines in her staff and the volunteers who help Habitat. I can’t think of anyone better for that job."

Johnson began with Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland as development director for 4½ years, then left to start her own company, but returned after the past director left and has served in that role for five years come October.

Mantooth has volunteered with Habitat for many years, first when she was involved as director of the local chapter of the American Red Cross and as a member of the Sunrise Rotary Club of Cleveland.

“Habitat was our preferred charity for Sunrise Rotary and even though I worked for another nonprofit, I fell in love with the mission of Habitat,” Mantooth said. “It's a hand up, not a handout.”

Now working with Wacker, Mantooth said she hopes to have some of her fellow employees form teams to help at future builds.

“I think we're gonna really try to do something special because we really want to help make an impact,” she said.

Mantooth said she appreciates Wacker allowing her to work with Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland, especially devoting her time to the Women’s Build. That is the time that a home is built by all women, with the exception of some supervision. Both Mantooth and Silverman were involved in the most recent Women’s Build.

Silverman is retired from Lee University, where she served as professor of public relations and as sponsor for the Public Relations Student Society of America chapter.

“The first time, I took a women [from Lee] we got so competitive ... the camaraderie going on and lots of picture-taking and to know that that home we are putting together … it really is a motivator.”

This year, both Mantooth and Silverman got to experience something that previous board members had not ⏤ actually being involved in calling recipients of Habitat homes to let them know they had been selected.

“So we heard everything from screaming, to crying, to silence … and to hear the joy and excitement and appreciation, well, our board members were in tears too,” Silverman said.

The three women all praise each other for the jobs they have done. Johnson said that she expects this next year to be a great one for Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland.

“Patty has done a phenomenal job. She has been a source of wisdom and a source of guidance and support that was just needed for this time,” the director said. “She has been phenomenal.

“And I know Lisa Mantooth has a long history in working at nonprofits and serving in leadership roles and they're they're both just very, very good women and strong leaders."

“Patty has been an exceptional president,” Mantooth said. “Of course, she was the first female president of our board for Habitat and you know, she's a tough leader to follow because she is just so amazing and she's so passionate. I'll do my best to follow in her footsteps, but there's definitely some pretty amazing shoes to fill.”

“Lisa is going to be amazing,” Silverman said. “She’s had leadership positions in United Way, in nonprofits, and she is working at Wacker, and I just feel like she will do an amazing job as president.”

A 'hand up:' Habitat for Humanity breaks ground at Morelock Meadows

By ALLEN MINCEY, Cleveland Daily Banner

Temperatures were hot, the ground dry and the air full of sound ⏤ applause, laughter and joy — as ground was broken Thursday for Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland’s newest venture, Morelock Meadows.

Under sunny skies that caused many to seek shade wherever possible, dozens of people attended the groundbreaking at 133 Foster Lane SE, which will be Habitat’s first venture into building multi-unit townhomes. Sixteen families will be a part of Morelock Meadows when it's completed.

The subdivision, near Blythe-Bower Elementary School, is being named for Jeff Morelock, a longtime supporter of Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland, and its president years ago. Morelock passed away in 2021, and Habitat wanted to dedicate this new development in his honor and memory.

“He was fully committed and believed in your mission to not only build homes and communities, but to build health as well,” said Ashlan Morelock, Jeff Morelock’s daughter-in-law. “I know that I'm not the only person in this town to say this, but I love Jeff. He taught me the importance of giving to our community by showing through his actions.”

Morelock’s family attended the ceremony, including his widow, Kathy, who said her husband would have been proud to see the newest development.

“Jeff never really wanted recognition. He was just one of those who enjoyed working in the background,” she said. “He loved Habitat, and he loved his community. He loved the relationship that was involved with Habitat because you get to know the families: They put in sweat equity, you have the volunteers — it’s just such an organization that really lifts people up and that’s what he wanted to do.”

One of those who has been lifted up through Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland is Dale Ware, who was the 136th recipient of a Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland home in 2019. She became a recipient after being disabled in an auto accident.

“During this time, I lost my home and lived with my sister for several years, and heard one day that my neighbor got a Habitat home,” she told those in attendance at the groundbreaking. Her sister eventually passed away, she moved from place to place, and “I was lost … I didn’t know where I belonged.”

Then, Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland came in and helped. “They were looking for me,” she said. “I went down and began the process. We are all in a process, just like the process that brought me into this spot. I am the proud homeowner of three years … and future homeowners, I have stood where you stand today, full of excitement and scared at the same time. It’s all worth it.”

Ware told those who will be moving into Morelock Meadows they have a great opportunity “just let the process work.”

“Habitat for Humanity was the hope for me, that desire … to give a hand up, not hand out,” she said. “They encouraged me to accomplish my dreams of homeownership ... let that encouragement move in you to help someone reach their goal today.”

Others spoke about how Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland has changed lives, and why they are involved with the organization. Karen Colley, owner of Chick-fil-A, a major sponsor for Habitat for Humanity, told the group she was so pleased to see the community come together for such a worthy cause.

Charlotte Peak, representing the Ocoee Region Builders Association, added that ORBA has been involved in 17 home builds and that she was excited to see Morelock Meadows become a reality.

Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis and Cleveland Mayor Kevin Brooks also said how pleased they were to see the local Habitat aid the community.

Others in attendance represented Lewis Architects, which is designing the townhomes and other parts of the subdivision; Caldwell Paving, which has provided paving services at the subdivision; and several Habitat volunteers, including Habitat for Humanity President Patty Silverman and the Rev. Jennifer Newell, pastor at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where Morelock attended.

“May [Morelock Meadows] be a reminder for everyone who drives by of the good we can do when we open our eyes and our hearts and allow ourselves to love one another and to work together for the good of the community,” Newell said in closing the ceremony with prayer.

The first home to be built in Morelock Meadows will be the 149th built by Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland.

Habitat And Easy Auto Announce Winner Of Family Fundraiser

Monday, April 18, 2022

The 2022 Family Fundraiser winner was announced Monda morning at Easy Auto Cleveland, 100 25th St. NE. This was an exciting moment, captured on Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland’s Facebook live, after a three-month competition among five future Habitat homeowners.

From Dec. 10, 2021 until March 18, the five families have collectively raised $10,586 to help build Habitat homes in Bradley County. Felicia Rhan is the winner of a 2015 red Kia Soul car, donated by Easy Auto. Ben Chandler, president of Easy Auto, made the surprise announcement to Ms. Rhan Monday morning, along with Tammy Johnson, executive director of Habitat of Cleveland.

Ms. Rhan came to the car lot thinking she was doing a video about her experience participating in the Family Fundraiser. She was very pleasantly surprised to learn that through the many generous donations of family and friends, she is the winner. 

Mr. said, “The Easy Auto and Habitat partnership goes all the way back to the year 2000. We’ve been involved in multiple building projects. We did the Leaders Build, and we’ve always sent out groups of employees. When you talk about service work within the ranks of the people of Easy Auto and Sunrise Acceptance, one of their favorite things to do is to go out and work on a home right here in our community. It’s been a wonderful partnership for us over the years, and we are truly excited to be invested with Habitat for Humanity, here in Bradley County.”

Ms. Johnson said, “The more we can work together, the more we can impact the community together. This has already been a huge team effort, and will help with this year’s home builds in the new Morelock Meadows subdivision. Felicia, and all the families work so hard through the Habitat program. Felicia has been putting in her sweat equity as our receptionist in the office, and she will soon be out on the build site working on her home.

“I would like to thank Easy Auto and all the people who donated on our behalf to the Family Fundraiser," said Ms. Rhan. "I was so overwhelmed, and definitely surprised, when I found out this morning that my family won the car. This is so amazing and definitely a God send. So much money has been put into my other car in the last couple years, that I knew I’d be needing a new one soon. I had no idea where that money would come from,” Her teenage daughter, Mackensie understands that when she gets her driver’s license, she will get the older car.

They are both deeply appreciative to everyone involved in this wonderful opportunity.

City-county join forces with federal funds to address homelessness

Posted Friday, January 28, 2022 10:08 am

By AUTUMN HUGHES

Local government leaders officially have presented $1.4 million in federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) money to two organizations dedicated to affordable housing.

Cleveland and Bradley County leaders gathered Thursday afternoon to present funding to City Fields and Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland.

The Bradley County Commission and Cleveland City Council each allocated $400,000 to City Fields to continue its efforts to rebuild or remodel 10 houses in the Blythe-Oldfield community, and $300,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland for 16 new homes in the Morelock Meadows subdivision.

The check presentation took place at Avery Johnson Park, which was named in Cleveland Vice Mayor Avery Johnson's honor last year.

"We've got a lot of people in the community who are doing a lot [to help others]," Johnson said.

Noting the cooperative effort between the city and county to equally fund City Fields and Habitat for Humanity, Johnson said, "We're really going to do something good here."

Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis called the use of ARP funds "an important step in addressing the housing issue facing Cleveland and Bradley County" and "a transformational investment being made in our community."

"This is another perfect example of what is possible when the city and county come together for a common goal," Davis said. "When my office approached the city about partnering together, we did so knowing that our impact in the community would be strengthened by working together."

He thanked Cleveland City Manager Joe Fivas, Mayor Kevin Brooks, Johnson and the Cleveland City Council for their partnership.

"I am thrilled with our other partners, these two organizations," Davis said. "Both of them have a track record of results when it comes to what they do, and I am confident this money will be put to its best use in the community.

"This investment helps to address a portion of the challenge, which is providing more affordable housing, but it doesn't go far enough to address the other side of the coin, which is available housing," Davis said.

"We have an opportunity, both the city and the county, to continue working together to create an environment that produces the necessary development and growth we need for the future," he added. 

Davis said millions more state and federal dollars "are flowing into Cleveland and Bradley County that will allow us to address our infrastructure needs" of sewer, water and broadband, "which in turn will help us address the issues of providing more affordable and available housing."

"Thank you to the city of Cleveland for meeting us in the middle on this project," Davis said. "As Bradley County mayor, I will continue to offer my hand of cooperation. The partnership and vision between the city of Cleveland and Bradley County is responsible for the strength of our community today, and continuing that cooperation is the only way we can move forward in addressing the challenges of tomorrow."

Cleveland Mayor Kevin Brooks was unable to attend the ceremony, but said in a written statement: "I am proud to join County Mayor Gary Davis in this historic move to support affordable housing in Cleveland and Bradley County. Today’s historic first steps by the City and County, will make an investment in the lives of our fellow neighbors for years to come.

 “These investments of a combined $1.4 million are not just a game-changer, these dollars are a life-changer for many in need," Brooks added. "Affordable housing can be found, and today’s partnership with the county proves we can work together to change lives for the better. And I wish to thank Vice Mayor  Johnson for being here today to present these checks to City Council. The future is bright when we work together.”

Dustin Tommey, executive director of City Fields, and Tammy Johnson, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Bradley County, also spoke about the impact of the ARP funds to their organizations.
"It's a beautiful picture, to me, of what can be done when the city and county cooperate and come together," Tommey said. "I am so grateful for the investment you are making in our community."

Tommey said City Fields' goal is to use the ARP funding for renovations and new construction of 10 homes, adding he hopes 10 projects each year will be the organization's "new normal." He said the community is "at a crisis point" of being able to provide affordable housing in the community.

"The money will  be stewarded well, and the people whose lives it will impact will make you proud," Tommey said.

Johnson said Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland has built 148 homes over the past 30 years, and the ARP funds will help build 14 townhomes and two single-family homes. She noted the new Morelock Meadows development is just down the street from Avery Johnson Park and Blythe-Bower Elementary School.
"Thank you — you are changing generations," Johnson said.

Affordable housing future looking brighter

Posted Wednesday, January 12, 2022 11:05 am

By AUTUMN HUGHES

The local affordable housing picture has been bleak for some time, but is starting to look brighter due to an infusion of one-time federal funds.

Bradley County is slated to receive nearly $21 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds, with $7.5 million already expended for essential worker premium pay one-time bonuses.

Nearly all of the $1 million in ARP funds set aside by the Bradley County Commission for affordable housing has been earmarked for use by nonprofit organizations.

Commissioners agreed last week to give $400,000 to City Fields to continue its efforts to rebuild or remodel 10 houses in the Blythe-Oldfield community, and $300,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland for 16 new homes in the Morelock Meadows subdivision.

Last month, in addition to Habitat for Humanity and City Fields, the United Way of the Ocoee Region, The Caring Place and Bradley/Cleveland Community Services Agency shared with commissioners how they would use ARP funding for affordable housing.

On Monday, commissioners heard again from The Caring Place and the United Way.

Corinne Freeman, executive director of The Caring Place, said that organization plans to use the ARP funds for housing stabilization.

“Those funds will be to help individuals who do not currently have stable housing, to move them into housing, and individuals who are at risk of losing housing, to help them prevent that homelessness,” she said, adding “we anticipate because of our current funding that should last us until about March, first of April.

“So we don’t have to draw down any funds from the commission until that time, and that should get us toward the fall before the end of the year,” Freeman said. “It does depend on the amount of need, how many requests that we get … .”

Freeman said $100,000 — a third of the remaining $300,000 in affordable housing funds — “gets us through 2022.”

Commissioner Milan Blake asked how COVID-19 has impacted the need for affordable housing, from The Caring Place's vantage.

“We had a housing crisis before COVID, so we had a housing need before COVID,” Freeman said. “What COVID did is it stopped a revolving door. … We had families who were continuously bouncing from house to house to house, rental to rental to rental, because they couldn’t afford what they found, or they would be with family members and they would be able to stay with family.

“What COVID did is it stopped that because we didn’t have evictions, so we actually saw all the amount of need in our community,” Freeman said. “And then it compounded that need because we had a lot of families who were kind of on the fence of being able to be stable … and they lost that safety net because they could no longer manage from week to week, paycheck to paycheck, because they might have went some time without employment.”

Tanya Mazzolini and Jaynese Waddell with the United Way also spoke to commissioners.

Mazzolini, the United Way’s chief financial officer, confirmed any ARP funds commissioners allocated to United Way will be used only in Bradley County.

Blake asked how United Way would use $100,000 in ARP funds and how long they would last.

Waddell, the United Way’s director of community impact, said “that’s very much based on the need and the call volume coming in.” She said over the past two years, the average amount given from the Tennessee Cares pandemic funding was $697 per family.

“So if you take that same average, that’s going to serve 143 families based on that $100,000,” Waddell said.

Mazzolini added that no ARP funds will be spent on administration or salaries.

Freeman also spoke about the “continuum of care,” noting The Caring Place, United Way and Bradley/Cleveland Community Services Agency (BCCSA) all provide direct assistance in the community, but they all have unique areas of specialization. For example, BCCSA is the only organization of the trio with an emergency shelter, while the United Way offers one-time assistance, and The Caring Place “offers from the beginning of need for our most vulnerable citizens — those who are without housing, unsheltered. We have outreach, rapid rehousing, and we’re able to move them onto that continuum.”

As Monday’s meeting was a work session, commissioners took no action on the additional information they heard. However, Blake aske the item will be put on next week’s voting session agenda to officially allocate ARP funds to The Caring Place and United Way.