In Memory of Deborah Holland
Our property manager, Deborah Holland, passed away on Thursday, January 19. She began her career with Urban Housing Solutions in 2001 when we bought the Budget Lodge where she worked. In addition to property management, Deborah also made sure our leasing office was decorated for the holidays year-round, baked and decorated amazing cakes (she made one for the resident Christmas party that was complete with Santa and his reindeer), and shared the preserves she canned at the end of every summer. Her office, which she shared with her husband, was a testimony to her green thumb--an entire wall was nearly covered with plants--and we don't mean the artificial ones! Our staff, our contractors, and our residents will miss her sweet spirit for years to come. Her memorial service was held on Wednesday, February 1 at 1:00 p.m. at Trevecca Community Church. You may download the slide show by clicking here.Breaking New Ground in Chestnut Hill
On October 11, the UHS project development team was joined by students and faculty from Tennessee State University, representatives from MDHA, The Housing Fund, the Trimble Action Group, and the Metro Police Department to celebrate the official groundbreaking of 1219 1st Avenue South, a unique redevelopment project spearheaded by UHS and designed in conjunction with TSU students and faculty.
Funded through Housing 4 Nashville’s Neighborhoods (housing4nashville.com), this project reinvents the typical fourplex apartment by maximizing the building’s aesthetic appeal while minimizing its environmental impact. The smart design is based on a winning submission from a team of TSU architecture students. The 1219 1st Avenue South project is actually part of a larger revitalization strategy in Chestnut Hill that involves several community partners and will bring both acquisition and rehab of existing apartment buildings and new construction to vacant infill properties. In all, this collective effort will invest over $8 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the neighborhood and will create or improve over 130 apartments and townhomes. Look for more photos from the groundbreaking on our Facebook page!
Want to Donate Your Car to a Great Cause?
Urban Housing Solutions is now accepting vehicle donations! On average, over 70% of the sales value will be returned to further our mission--providing affordable rental housing and supportive services to low-income residents of the Nashville area. The vehicle doesn't have to be running, and you don't have to pay for the tow! If you're ready to make your donation, just visit our vehicle donation page or call toll-free at 1-866-322-1778.
We Have a New Director of Property Management
Thanks to all of you who applied for our Director of Property Management position. We're excited to announce that the position has been filled by Dana Campbell, who has more than ten years' experience in the property management industry--most recently overseeing 1,500+ apartments in the Indianapolis area.
148 New Places to Call Home
After months of negotiations and careful planning, we signed the closing papers on Neely Meadows on January 13, 2010! Neely Meadows, located at 600 Cheyenne Blvd. in Madison, was under receivership. Thanks to a $3.2 million stimulus grant from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency and a low-interest loan from Pinnacle Financial Partners, we were able to bring the property out of receivership and take our total number of affordable apartments to over 750! Neely Meadows features spacious one- and two-bedroom apartments, a pool, and washer/dryer connections in all units. Please call (615) 726-2696, ext. 110, 118, or 133 to set up your application appointment for one of these great apartments! The rent is just $475 for the one-bedroom units and $575 for the two-bedroom units.
John Overton H.S. Students Pay a Visit
Students from John Overton High School's Leadership Class visited our Mercury Courts residents on October 8th. They brought food and spent the afternoon with our residents--learning more about what it was like for them to be homeless, touring one of our vacant apartments, and even being visited by one resident's new puppy.
Trevecca Filled the Pantry!
Trevecca Nazarene University's Physician Assistant Program has been working with our Health Matters Program since 2008. This year, faculty challenged each of these 40 students to collect 50 pounds of canned goods in exchange for dinner at the university president's house. They collected over 4,000 pounds of food--more than double their goal! Thanks to Trevecca, we've been able to fully stock our main pantry, as well as provide over 100 food boxes to residents in need. Thank you!Access, Adherence, and Advocacy--Keywords for June 18th Health Disparities Conference
Nearly 60 Nashville stakeholders joined forces at the Downtown Library to discuss the current state of healthcare for the poor and what can be done to improve it locally. The conference featured:
- A moving and inspiring keynote address by Erie Chapman, CEO of the Baptist Healing Trust and author of Radical Loving Care
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A panel discussion including:
- Mary Bufwack, CEO of United Neighborhood Health Services
- Ronda Switzer, Executive Director of Interfaith Dental Clinic
- Sean Muldoon, Director of Client Services at Nashville CARES
- Luvenia Butler, Director of the Tennessee Division of Minority Health and Health Disparities Elimination , Tennessee Department of Health
- discussion groups for substance abuse, chronic diseases/HIV/AIDS, mental and behavioral health, and primary health care
If you're interested in joining e-mail work groups for substance abuse, chronic diseases (including HIV/AIDS), mental and behavioral health, and/or primary health care, please call or e-mail Traci Patton, UHS Health Advocate at 726-2696, ext. 142 or . The conference was sponsored by the Baptist Healing Trust and the Human Rights Commission. And, as we heard from Erie Chapman, "Namaste" (the light in me greets the light in you).
And the Award Goes to . . .
The economy has been rough on everyone. When your well-being depends largely on the generosity of donors, you have to be careful to manage the limited resources you have--especially when donations plummet. The HCA Foundation, in an effort to help the Middle Tennessee nonprofit community, sponsored a cost savings competition. Urban Housing Solutions won the large agency category for our Middle Tennessee nonprofit cost savings Web site idea! In addition to a $2,500 check, the HCA Foundation committed to implementing our idea! The award was announced at the Center for Nonprofit Management's Bridge to Excellence Conference on May 12th. Congrats to the other large agency finalists--Adventure Science Center and CASA of Davidson County; the small agency winner, Eating Disorders Coalition of Tennessee, and the small agency finalists--Nashville Opportunities Industrialization Center and the Council on Aging of Greater Tennessee.
UHS Awarded New Property
In the spring of 2008, we were chosen to receive a former East Nashville nursing home over more than two dozen nonprofits! Forrest Preston, the donor of the property, chose us based on our proposal to convert the space into both affordable living for Nashville's deaf and community space. He also knew that we had the ability to complete such a project.
The property, to be named 701 Porter, is at the corner of Porter Road and Eastland Avenue. It will provide about 32 affordable apartments. Most will be safe, affordable housing for Nashville's deaf. The small cafeteria may be converted to a cafe with possible performance space for exhibits, open-mic nights, meetings, or activities sponsored by the League for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Seven upper-level units will be small shops for artists, entrepreneurs, or even pastry chefs to sell their wares to the community. One business, Montessori of Middle Tennessee, opened its doors in August 2009.
Plans are still underway, but we thank Mr. Preston for this honor and opportunity. We also thank you for your involvement with us, without which we couldn't continue to undertake great ventures such as this! We will keep you updated on this visionary project's progress!