A Successful Partnership…20 Families Lives Changed!!

Thanks to a partnership between Tennessee Housing Development Agency’s Housing Trust Fund Program and Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee, twenty families in Tennessee were able to spend Christmas 2008 in their own simple, decent, affordable homes. The Housing Trust Fund provided a $500,000 grant towards this Homes for Tennessee statewide project.

The Housing Trust Fund targets households earning 50% or below of area median income; focusing on elderly and special needs populations. The 20 houses built by Habitat affiliates included 11 families with special needs and 2 elderly families. Habitat affiliates raised over $750,000 to partner with the Housing Trust Fund to build these homes throughout Tennessee.

Project Kickoff Event
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Knoxville, Tennessee

Pictured right are Ted Fellman (Executive Director of THDA), Renee Massey, Amy Davis (homeowner) and Jonathan Reckford, (CEO of Habitat for Humanity International).

HOUSE #1: Knoxville Habitat for Humanity

Amy Davis is a forty-one-year-old special-needs adult who lives with her roommate, Renee Massey. Their previous apartment was too expensive, and their lives were disrupted by the loud, active family that lived above them. Amy and Renee were on site every day during the build, as was Amy’s father, who was the construction crew leader for her home. Their new house is half the cost of their previous apartment, and the neighborhood is nice and quiet. Not only have Amy and Renee become homeowners, but they are proud owners of the very first Habitat home built with Housing Trust Fund money!

HOUSE #2: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis

Stephanie Austin was an educator before developing multiple sclerosis. She was living with her parents prior to being accepted into the Habitat program. Those who worked with Stephanie on her house say she was a joy and a source of inspiration to all around her. She has proven that anything is possible through God and a willing spirit. Stephanie has continued to volunteer with Habitat even after her home was built. She is an ongoing volunteer at the Church Health Center, which is a non-profit that offers health services to individuals without health insurance.

HOUSE #3: Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland

Originally from Cleveland, Tammy Blackwell moved back several years ago. She wanted her daughters, to grow up in the small town she did as a child. Tammy has her degree in Medical Assistant and works for a local OB/GYN office. She lived in a two bedroom apartment that was not in a safe area. Tammy is so thankful for this opportunity to become a homeowner.

HOUSE #4: Loudon County Habitat for Humanity

Cynthia Renea Jackson is a single mother with a 4 year old daughter. She has worked at WalMart for the last 3 1/2 years and has progressed from the bakery section to her current position as a Customer Service Manager. Renea recently married and is still hopeful that as her financial status becomes more stable she can go back to college and pursue her dream to someday be a teacher.

HOUSE #5: Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity

Mary Puok emigrated from the country of Sudan in 1994. Life in Sudan was peaceful growing up, but re-surfacing political unrest eventually led the country into another anti-government war. Mary was forced to make the difficult decision of leaving behind her home country, parents, and siblings; moving herself and her now oldest daughter to the U.S. She moved here in search of opportunities to work for a better life for her family. Mary is now a hard-working, divorced mother of seven children. She works at a manufacturing company in their tunnel/production line. When she first began the Habitat application process, she was living in a neighborhood that was extremely unsafe, so she had to keep her children locked inside. Mary takes homeownership very seriously and wants to learn everything, and do all that is necessary to be a responsible homeowner.

HOUSE #6: Hawkins Habitat for Humanity

The home where Jimmy Hall was raised was condemned by the Tennessee Mental Health Department (TMHD) as unfit for him to live in. Jimmy was then moved to rental housing that was very expensive. He spent two years in rental housing before obtaining Habitat housing. Jimmy's two TMHD counselors both stated that Jimmy living in his own house would be a huge benefit to his life. Even though Jimmy was not mentally or physically able to do much in building his house he always came and did cleanup work after the workday was over. He is now a very proud Habitat homeowner and loves to tell others that he is now a homeowner.

HOUSE #7: Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County

Oleg and Alla Tsykhmeister were born in Ukraine. The family arrived in the United States in 2005 through the help of the World Relief Agency. They have been living in Fairview for the past 3 years. Oleg works at a Tire and Auto Service company. Alla also works. They have three children. The family is active in their church and has many friends in the area from Ukraine. They were very excited about buying their own home and very grateful for their beautiful four-bedroom home in Spring Hill.

HOUSE #8: Campbell County Habitat for Humanity

Robert and Shena Wylie never thought homeownership would be possible for them until they entered the Habitat program. Whenever anyone would talk to Shena about her house, she would just cry with joy. Robert works at a local manufacturing company and Shena at a local country store. The house they were renting was in very poor condition. The Wylie’s worked more sweat equity hours than any previous Habitat homeowner in Campbell County. They were so thrilled to help out. Habitat can still give Robert a call and he will come help out. They have one beautiful child and are very proud homeowners.

HOUSE #9: Holston Habitat for Humanity

Raymond and Beverly Miller, both disabled, live with their sixteen year old granddaughter and their fourteen year old grandson. Raymond has Post Poliomyelitis which affects his ability to walk. His mobility is dependent upon the use of crutches and an electric wheelchair. Prior to his disability, Raymond graduated from Northeast State Tech with a degree in drafting design. Raymond worked for Bristol Mills for over fourteen years before his health began to decline. Beverly has Chronic Pulmonary Disease and relies on the use of oxygen 24 hours a day. The Miller family rented a home in an area prone to drugs and other crimes and Raymond had a difficult time maneuvering within and accessing the bathroom. They are now living in a new, handicapped accessible home in Bristol that features two disability ramps, wide doorways, a walk-in shower, handicapped accessible appliances (stove, washer, and dryer), and pocket doors into the hallway.

HOUSE #10: Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity

Marcie decided to apply for the Habitat Program when she heard a local radio station, WGNS, advertising for the ReStore. She knew in her heart that with her age and Joe’s struggles with emphysema, the Habitat Program might be their last chance to make their dream come true. After 41 years of living in public housing, Marcie and Joe feel extremely blessed that God opened the door for them. The afternoon of their dedication was very special. Lots of the Turner’s family and friends turned out to help them celebrate. There was singing, rejoicing, good food and much thankfulness. The highlight was when all those present put a hand on the home as the Blessing of the Home was being read by their nephew.

HOUSE #11: Habitat for Humanity Blount County

At the time Tim and Kimberly Hanson were acceptance into the Habitat program, their family lived with Timothy’s parents in a three bedroom house where the Hanson’s family of five shared two of the bedrooms. A total of ten people were residing in the home and the Hanson family had been living like this for 4 years. The over-crowding conditions were an added stress to the family’s daily activities. Timothy is employed at the University of Tennessee as a floor cleaner. Their opportunity for homeownership became a reality when the THDA Housing Trust Fund grant was awarded.

HOUSE #12: Putnam County Habitat for Humanity

Sylvia Cramer spends her days working at Oreck Manufacturing following eight years as an employee of Russell Stover. She has three sons ages 15, 11, and 8. Sylvia is a great mom who likes to collect Native American crafts and knick knacks. She also enjoys swimming, camping and hiking. The Cramer’s are excited to have their home where the boys can have their own rooms. Prior to entering the Habitat program, the boys all slept in the same room.

HOUSE #13: Cumberland County Habitat for Humanity

Cleatus and Wilma Hawn are both retired. They have been married for 46 years and have lived in Crossville for the last sixteen. They have two daughters, one in Smyrna, TN and the other in Dickson, TN. Cleatus worked 20 years for Mays Hosiery Company in Nashville, before being forced to leave by the company’s closure in 1984. Since becoming involved in Habitat for Humanity, he spends most of his free time working at the Habitat Home Store and picking up donated merchandise at area homes. They are both very excited to see their dreams of homeownership become a reality.

HOUSE #14: Habitat for Humanity Anderson County

Crystal Wright knows the power of prayer and hard work. The two-bedroom house she had been renting for her family was in great need of repair. Throughout the house the floors were severely warped, several rooms had the ceiling falling in, and mold was a constant problem. Coupled with the medical expenses related to her youngest son’s leukemia treatments, she found herself struggling to keep up. Then her life changed for the better, the day Crystal was notified that she had been approved for the Habitat program, she learned her son had won his battle with leukemia! Crystal has worked hard – 400 hours of “sweat equity”, making her down payment– and every day of construction, she and her sons visited the house.

HOUSE #15: Highland Rim Habitat for Humanity

David and Andrea Teal have an infant daughter six months old. David is employed as a saw operator at the Morrison Tool and Fabrication Company which supplies services to the automotive industry. Andrea would like to be a dog groomer in the near future. They are looking forward to building their lives in their new home.

HOUSE #16: Habitat for Humanity Jackson Area

Teresa Davis lived in public housing apartments and longed to purchase her own home in a ‘safe’ environment. She is employed full time, with a non-profit agency. Teresa worked tirelessly on her 500 sweat equity hours of which 400 were in construction and 100 were in educational training. She is so happy to have realized her dream of homeownership.

HOUSE #17: Habitat for Humanity Tipton County

A native of Tipton County, Eugenia Currie has two children of her own and is also raising her sister’s two children. They were living in a rental home, paying too much rent and the utility bills were extremely high due to the lack of sufficient insulation. Eugenia works at a local rehabilitation center now for over eight years and she has a huge heart. She was so excited that her new Habitat home was located in an excellent school district and her children were able to begin their school year at a new school in a new home of their own.

HOUSE #18: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga

At 30 and with three young children, Stella Jones was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy and realized that eventually she would be facing life in a wheelchair. “My children were my salvation at that point. I didn’t want to go on living, but I knew I had to for them.” Stella works as an after school child care giver and supplements her income with a second job at Wendy’s. Muscular Dystrophy is genetic and her 16 year old daughter has also been diagnosed. Stella’s home was built specifically for her set of challenges. There will not be any stairs to climb, doorways and showers will be wheelchair accessible, and cabinets and countertops will be lowered to wheelchair height. Stella and her children worked hard at the Habitat office, logging their volunteer hours. And though she may be tired, you never heard her complain, “Life is as hard as you make it. I just don’t focus on the pain. I just focus on each day, one day at a time. I don’t consider myself disabled, I just have a disability.”

HOUSE #19: Weakley County Habitat for Humanity

Janie Brewer has four children; Crystal, 24 who has cerebral palsy, Marie, 16, Jacob, 8 and another son who lives in Ripley. The Brewer's house will be wheelchair accessible for Crystal. The girls are looking forward to helping out in the kitchen and Jacob, a true outdoorsman, has put himself in charge of the yard work. Marie participates in Special Olympics and recently took home ribbons in the softball throw and 50-meter run. She’s preparing for prom in May. Janie, a former photographer at a newspaper, sees her family in a new house built with their own hands and sweat and the hands and sweat of the community and knows it will be a picture-perfect future.

HOUSE #20: Habitat for Humanity of Warren County

Leo and Sue Terrazas have been married over 20 years. Leo is a native of Mexico and has been an American citizen for many years. He works at a local nursery. Sue works as a teacher's aide at the local elementary school. They are the proud parents of four exceptional academic daughters. Their two oldest daughters are both attending college on full Academic scholarships. Their 14 year old daughter is a freshman in High School and an honor student. The Terrazas family lived in a trailer before moving into their new home.

About the Housing Trust Fund

The Housing Trust Fund was created by THDA’s Board of Directors, after the General Assembly appropriated $1 million for housing programs in FY2006-2007. THDA added $12 million to create the fund, and is actively seeking additional state and private investment to the fund, designed to address the housing needs of the very low-income, the elderly and the special needs populations of Tennessee. With additional state funds, the first round of funding totaled $16 million.

About Tennessee Housing Development Agency

THDA is Tennessee’s housing finance agency, responsible for selling tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds to offer affordable mortgage funds to homebuyers of low and moderate incomes through local lenders, and administering various housing programs targeted to very low, low, and moderate income households. Identified as one of the basic human needs, housing has profound impacts, both social and economic, on individuals and communities. Safe, sound, affordable housing is essential to a healthy household, educational achievement, successful employment, and the stability and safety of the neighborhood. To that end, THDA serves Tennesseans through four roles: Administrator, Leader, Resource and Facilitator of Partnerships. More information is available at www.thda.org.

About Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee

HFHT is a statewide organization that supports the affordable housing efforts of the 52 Habitat for Humanity affiliates serving 63 counties in Tennessee. It is governed by a 17 member Board of Directors representing a diverse cross section of Tennessee Habitat affiliates as well as at-large members. Habitat for Humanity helps end the poverty cycle. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds simple, decent, quality built, energy efficient houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with no interest affordable loans. The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments are used to build still more Habitat houses. Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to a down payment, monthly mortgage payments, and the mandatory homeowner education classes, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor—sweat equity—into building their Habitat house and the houses of others. HFHT is affiliated with Habitat for Humanity International (www.habitat.org), which since 1976, has built more than 300,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.5 million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. More information is available at www.habitattn.org.