Construction Manager Needed
Urban Housing Solutions is part of a consortium that was recently awarded $30 million to revitalize distressed Nashville neighborhoods by purchasing vacant and foreclosed properties and rehabilitating or building new affordable housing. We're looking for an experienced construction manager to help us with this project, as well as other capital improvements. Please read the job description and, if you meet the qualifications, fill out our application and submit it by fax to (615) 726-2659 (ATTN: Human Resources) or drop it off at our 411 Murfreesboro Pike location before the March 22 deadline at 5:00 p.m. Phone calls are strongly discouraged.
Memorial Playground to Be Built at Eastwood Courts
On January 19, 2009, our friend and property manager, Michael Walden, passed away. We wanted to remember him in a manner that would capture his great sense of humor and easygoing nature, so we planned to build a playground and community space called "Michael's Place" in his honor. Thanks to the Bank of America Foundation; the Nashville Predators Foundation; Bellenfant & Miles; A&R Roofing; England, Clark & Wade; the Law Office of M. Wesley Hall; Plus Printing; our staff; and the friends and family of George Youngkins, Jr.; we'll be able to build Michael's Place in the next few months! If you would like to volunteer on the build day, please call Brandi at (615) 726-2696, ext. 114. Thank you!
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
- 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!
New Web Site for 701 Porter
Visit www.701porter.com today for commercial leasing opportunities and 701 Porter's concept design. Phase I construction has already begun.