Funds will help build 20 homes across Tennessee, including one in La Follette

TOP PHOTO:  Here’s a Habitat for Humanity Memory of (left to right) Keylyn, Jayden, Mary and Ramsey Brumitt. Mary Brumitte was way beyond her required sweat equity hours.  Her straight-A-student-son, Ramsey, had already piled up a lot of his own sweat equity hours.  And in early October 2018, with warm sunshine streaming through the trees on East Fir Street, ground was broken for the family’s future Habitat Home.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF) – Campbell County Habitat for Humanity has announced it will receive $23,250 in grant funding by Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee to build one new home in Campbell County.

The funding comes as part of a $500,000 grant from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA). Campbell County Habitat for Humanity and its sister organizations throughout the state will apply the grant toward the construction of 20 new homes for qualified first-time homebuyers.

“These additional funds from THDA are a blessing to our organization and help us in our mission to provide housing for members of our community who might otherwise never been able to own their own home.  We are committed to improving our community and changing the trajectory of our partners lives by providing the path to home ownership.  This grant helps us continue this mission and helps us provide more opportunities in the future.”  said Zacherly Sheets, President/Chairman, Campbell County Habitat for Humanity.

THDA allocates the funds to Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee, and local Habitat affiliates could apply for $23,250 per home build. When construction is complete in June 2024, more than 70 children and adults will be living in affordable, energy-efficient homes built in part from this funding.

“THDA is a strong statewide partner helping us make homeownership a reality for more Tennesseans,” said Colleen Dudley, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee. “This grant provides us with a solid foundation to spur our larger fundraising efforts, which will reach over $4 million from individuals, churches, foundations and businesses to complete these builds.”

Funding for the grant came from the Tennessee Housing Trust Fund (THTF) 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 $117.3 million in THTF grants.

“Habitat for Humanity continues to make a positive impact in communities across Tennessee by providing affordable housing opportunities to hard-working families and helping them realize the dream of homeownership,” said THDA Executive Director Ralph M. Perrey. “We at THDA share that goal and are pleased to continue providing grant funds that will assist Habitat affiliates across the state.”

This Habitat Home on East Fir Street was completed in January 2020.

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 45 years to include 37 affiliates that serve over 60 counties. Tennessee is ranked the fourth largest builder of Habitat for Humanity homes in the country. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit HERE.

The Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) is Tennessee’s housing finance agency, created by the General Assembly in 1973. THDA was created to promote the production of more affordable new housing units for very low-, low- and moderate-income individuals and families in the state, to promote the preservation and rehabilitation of existing housing units for such persons, and to bring greater stability to the residential construction industry and related industries so as to assure a steady flow of production of new housing units. For more information, visit HERE. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/08/2024-6AM)

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