Upper Cumberland Habitat for Humanity resuming residential construction in Overton County on the 95th house-build in the Upper Cumberland.
Executive Director Jeremy Byrd said the organization paused work on First Street in Livingston while scheduling subcontractors. Byrd said the project, the first in Livingston since 2019, represents a significant milestone as it seeks to establish a more routine building schedule in the community.
“I would love to see us be able to build a new home every, you know, two to three years,” Byrd said, “That community needs affordable housing solutions as well. I will say a secondary, but no less important reason for trying to serve that community is, I’m from Livingston.”
Byrd said the next phase of the project is instrumental in the momentum moving forward.
“We have, as of last week even, really begun to be able to build in earnest,” Byrd said. “So the pad has been prepared and the basement walls are now up. And so we’ll be actually, I think, pouring concrete there this week in preparation of getting the rest of the structure up so we can dry it in.”
Byrd said the organization relies on a combination of staff, volunteers, and local subcontractors to move the project forward. Byrd said the goal is to have the home dried in soon so that interior detail work, including plumbing and electrical installations, can begin.
“Our goal is to close this home in early fall,” Byrd said. “Of course, again, like I said, it’s a little bit of a moving target because you never know what the weather’s going to do and how that’s going to push some of the subcontractors and volunteers that we rely on to help us with these partnerships to make this happen.”
Byrd said the family purchasing the home has already contributed significant “sweat equity” by working on job sites in Cookeville and participating in various Habitat events. Byrd said the organization requires applicants to demonstrate a need for better housing, a willingness to partner through volunteer work, and the ability to pay an affordable mortgage.
“I was, quite frankly, appalled at the housing market in this area once I moved back here,” Byrd said. “It is so expensive to purchase land, develop that land, buy a home in our town. It’s really, really important that we recognize that we need long-term solutions.”
Byrd said the organization will host the Dream Builders Luncheon on August 25 in Livingston to provide further updates on the project.
