ETHRA Builds New House

This brand new ranch style house in Oak Ridge (Anderson County) was built through a unique partnership developed by staff at the East Tennessee Human Resource Agency.  Two departments within ETHRA – the Energy and Housing Divisions – set out to expand home ownership opportunities for the disabled.  With the help of a grant through the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, ETHRA’s Energy Department has completed the second of four new homes.  The first house is in Clinton and the other two will be in Union County.

Upon completion, each home will be sold to a qualified family currently receiving rental assistance through ETHRA’s Housing Choice Voucher Program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  The families who are selected to purchase the homes are chosen using a “points” system and have to meet good credit standards. Each family also completes extensive homebuyer education courses which emphasizes the purchase process and the ongoing responsibilities that homeownership brings to a family.

This first home was purchased by a single mother who participated in ETHRA’s Family Self-Sufficiency Program for several years.  The long-term goal has been to purchase a home for her and her daughter.  As she stepped toward her goal, she completed home buyers classes, worked to improve her credit, and saved consistently for a down payment and closing costs.  Her careful, step-by-step planning brought her to the top of the list and she is now achieving her goal. 

This creative initiative is an opportunity to strengthen communities, improve neighborhoods and encourage families to take responsibility for their family’s self-sufficiency.