Wheaton Said Creativity Needed To Help Affordable Housing
Outgoing Cookeville Mayor Laurin Wheaton said leaders across the county want to explore “creative” ways to improve the housing affordability issues. A recent report from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency ranked Cookeville as one of the communities with the highest need for more affordable housing in the state, behind only Nashville and Knoxville. Wheaton said […]
Highlands Residential Magnolia Ridge Awaits Tax Decision
Highlands Residential Services is awaiting a decision on a tax credit application submitted for the Magnolia Ridge housing development. Executive Director Chris Cassetty said the application was submitted to the Tennessee Housing Development Agency at the beginning of April. “We had an update on Magnolia Ridge, but it’s basically just that the tax credit application […]
Cookeville Community Cares Needs Four Person Tents
Cookeville Community Cares is urgently seeking donations of four-person tents to replace damaged shelters for individuals experiencing homelessness in the Upper Cumberland. Board Member Lisa Carver said the coalition uses the shelters to assist unhoused neighbors while working to remove barriers to permanent housing. The organization specifically requests four-person models to maximize available space while […]
Cookeville Doing What It Can To Encourage Affordable Housing
Cookeville Officials said the city is doing all it can to encourage development that would aim to reduce the need for affordable housing. A recent report from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency found Cookeville and the Upper Cumberland region could need roughly 3,000 new affordable housing units over the next decade. Cookeville Community Development Director […]
Homelessness: Overall Numbers Steady, Young Rising
While the number of homeless across the Upper Cumberland remained consistent over the last year, homelessness among young adults has risen. Homeless Programs Advocate Vivian Walker said the total number of homeless people surveyed in the January around 600, similar to last year’s results. “We’re seeing, probably the biggest thing, is there’s a huge increase, […]
Affordable Housing Lacking For UC Women
The community needs to focus on the supply of affordable housing for women. Upper Cumberland Habitat for Humanity sponsored a forum on the topic Tuesday as part of its Women Build Week. Tennessee Affordable Housing Coalition Executive Director Dominique Pryor-Anderson said finding affordable housing for a single mother is a challenge. “You have to find […]
Senior Centers And Affordable Housing Could Become Vaccine Sites
The Upper Cumberland Area Agency on Aging and Disability is working to create more COVID vaccination sites to improve access for aging populations. Director Holly Williams said senior centers and affordable housing complexes are candidates for these, “Strike sites.” “At this point, we have two senior centers in the Upper Cumberland that feel like that […]
Monterey Looking Into Industrial Park Property Deeds
The Monterey Building and Grounds Committee will need more time to determine whether 9.5 acres in its industrial park can be sold. The committee met Thursday night to hear from an interested buyer with plans to build affordable housing. However, Mayor JJ Reels said it is possible the land can only be sold for industrial […]
