Self-help housing gets $500,000 grant

U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis and USDA Rural Development State Director Bobby Goode have announced federal funding of $503,200 to the Crossville Housing Authority (CHA) for the agency's self-help housing program. The presentations took place during a celebration of USDA's Rural Housing Program's Sixtieth Anniversary at the CHA offices.

"For sixty years, USDA has worked to provide housing assistance to working families who need a safe and affordable place to live and raise a family. Today, we continue to still see the good work Rural Development does with such valuable partners like the Crossville Housing Authority," said Davis, a member of the House Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations Subcommittee. "I applaud their joint efforts in working to make life better for families in Cumberland County."

According to CHA Executive Director Don Alexander the $503,200 grant will be used to provide technical and supervisory assistance to help 20 eligible applicants construct an affordable home for themselves and their families.

CHA has helped families build 43 homes since beginning the Self Help program in 2004. At an average value of $134,000 per house, CHA has helped add some $5.8 million dollars to the local property tax rolls.  In addition, each family that went through the program has gained approximately $20,000 in equity in their house on the day they moved in adding $860,000 in net worth for participating families.

For more information on CHA’s New Beginnings Self Help Homeownership Program contact Marley Wyatt at (931) 484-2990.

Rural Development's Mutual Self-Help Program helps people help themselves by working with others to build sweat-equity into a small group of homes constructed at the same time. Participants spend up to a year completing the homes together, building community and self-reliance at the same time.

Goode said, "Congressman Lincoln Davis' long-standing support for Rural Development means we've had the financial resources to invest more than $27 million in low interest, no-down payment home loans and other investments in housing for Cumberland County families just in the last five years. Good partners like the Crossville Housing Authority help us use those investments wisely; to foster growth in homeownership, to promote job growth and to build quality community infrastructure."

Since 2004 USDA Rural Development investments in Cumberland County have included $16,388,299 in home loan guarantees through local lenders for 148 families, $8,686,148 in direct home loans for 108 families and $59,277 in small grants that have enabled 13 families to make essential repairs or accessibility improvements to their homes. An additional $468,844 has been invested in Cumberland County apartment complexes during the same period.

CHA has been awarded more than $1.6 million for the Mutual Self-Help Housing Program. Goode praised the five-year-old program saying "We're celebrating homeownership here in Crossville because CHA's work providing safe, affordable housing is a model for communities across the state and the region."

Others participating in the event included Cumberland County Mayor Brock Hill, Crossville Mayor J.H. Graham, State Representative Charlotte Burks and Rural Development staff including acting State Housing Programs Director Joe Woody, acting Cookeville Area Director Jerry Jolley and area directors from across Tennessee.

The 1949 passage of the federal Housing Act marked a turning point in the nation’s history by establishing the Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) now part of Rural Development. To date, more than three million rural Americans have benefited by receiving housing loans, grants and guarantees totaling $124.6 billion.

USDA Rural Development invests in jobs, businesses, community infrastructure, homeownership and affordable rental housing in rural communities. Last year Rural Development assisted more than 866,000 Tennessee families and businesses with more than $619 million in financial assistance through affordable loans, loan guarantees and grants.

For more information on Rural Development programs available in Cumberland County contact the Rural Development Area Office in Cookeville at (931) 528-6539 ext. 2, toll free at 1-800-342-3149 extension 1493, or visit us online at www.rurdev.usda.gov/tn.

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