The DeKalb County Habitat for Humanity has officially merged with the Upper Cumberland Habitat in Cookeville after several years of discussion.
Executive Director Jeremy Byrd said the conversations between the two affiliates began while trying to determine more effective methods to address the housing crisis. Byrd said those conversations led both sides to agree that a merger was the best step forward, as it would help everyone.
“Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County, Tennessee has been a a very very strong affiliate in a lot of different ways,” Byrd said. “They have tremendous support in their community. There’s a lot of knowledge and skill in their volunteer base there, so that’s going to be incredibly helpful for us.”
Byrd said the UC Habitat will be able to learn from DeKalb Habitat’s past successes. Byrd said the benefit for DeKalb County comes from leadership, as a staff can help build in that area. The DeKalb Habitat previously operated by volunteers.
Byrd said the merger was delayed by situations like the COVID-19 pandemic and the passing of former Executive Director Pam Ealey. He said the merger finally happened as a result of both sides working to figure it out.
“I just think it was a commitment from both affiliates to make sure that we stayed the course,” Byrd said. “We made sure that everything was done appropriately in accordance with the law. And making sure we had all our t’s crossed and all of the i’s dotted and just being persistent.”
Byrd said the tenacity in completing the merger was worth it because of the benefits the region will feel as a result.
Byrd said the DeKalb volunteers have put tremendous work into their annual events like the Chili Cook-off and Fiddlers 5k race. He said they invest lots of time and energy into these events, as well as to provide housing to people in the community.
“And being volunteers while doing that, not being able to give it their full attention during the day, also having full time jobs, family, and other commitments in the community,” Byrd said. “Many of them are community leaders down there. It’s very inspiring to see how they were able to do all those things and do them well.”
Byrd said the people of DeKalb County can expect service. He said Habitat is currently planning how it wants to take in the first round of applications for Habitat housing. Byrd said he hopes to do this swiftly so Habitat can get to work on bettering the community there.
Byrd said he appreciates all the volunteers and community leaders who have worked behind the scenes with the government and attorneys to make the merger happen. The merger will allow the UC Habitat to serve DeKalb, Overton, Putnam, and White Counties.
