Johnson City and McMinnville Housing Authorities win Tennessee's Best Awards

(L-R) Brian Bills, THDA Board Chairman; Richard McClain, Executive Director, Johnson City Housing Authority; Ralph Perrey, Executive Director, THDA
 

(L-R) Brian Bills, THDA Board Chairman; John Cauthen, President, Barge Cauthen & Associates, Nashville; Pam Vaughn, McMinnville Housing Authority, Assistant Executive Director; Patricia Basham, Executive Director; Ralph Perrey, Executive Director, THDA

Congratulations to Johnson City and McMinnville Housing Authorities who won a THDA Tennessee's Best Award at their recent Governor's Housing Summit in Nashville.

Johnson City Housing won the Excellence in Partnership - Rising Star Award for their Homes for Youth (H4Y) program. Homes for Youth (H4Y) serves homeless 18-25 year olds by partnering with organizations in an effort to support, mentor and provide them with the tools to be successful. H4Y utilizes a three-pronged model for self-reliance: supportive transitional housing, team mentoring, and family advocacy. As needed, H4Y partners with community resources for job training, counseling, physical fitness, and other services. H4Y has an extensive network of dedicated partners in the Tri-Cities community that contributes generously through financial and spiritual support and guidance, technical assistance, in-kind donations and volunteering.
 
McMinnville Housing Authority won the Best in Innovation Award. They were one of four Tennessee housing authorities that received funding under the Competitive Grant Program of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the HUD Public Housing Capital Fund. The funds were used to complete the rehabilitation of one of the oldest public housing development in the community.  An estimated $30,000 annually is saved in water, sewer and electricity costs.  The renewal of the property includes the Tennessee Technological Agricultural Leadership and Development Serve Project planting over 60 cherry trees donated by a local nursery.