UCHRA Testifies On Program Helping Local Poverty Families
UCHRA Executive Director Mark Farley said the agency has been very successful in helping local impoverished families through a one-time grant three years ago. Farley said the agency received an estimated $25 million grant in 2022 to fund a three-year initiative aimed at helping families move out of poverty. Farley said program navigators have worked […]
UCHRA Holds Homelessness Roundtable
The UCHRA Policy Committee held a roundtable Wednesday to discuss the challenges of managing the homeless population in the Upper Cumberland. Cookeville Police Sargeant Zach Gilpin told the committee that a homeless encampment behind the Cook Out on Scenic Drive has been home to as many as 150 homeless people. He said when organizations and […]
UCHRA Public Transportation Looking At EMS Agreement
UCHRA considering agreements with local EMS departments to ensure that residents can receive transportation services during extreme weather. Executive Director Mark Farley said during the early January storm, UCHRA Public Transportation did not have vehicles equipped to travel safely on local roads. He said many residents missed medical appointments without the service. “It could be […]
Low-Income Families Can Apply For Empower UC Feb 15th
The enrollment period for Empower Upper Cumberland begins February 15th. Director Megan Spurgeon shared the start date to local leaders during a UCHRA Policy Council meeting last week. Spurgeon said the pilot initiative will accept up to 800 low-income families to help them move up the economic ladder. “We still have a few more kinks […]
UCHRA Exec Director Planning Summit Over Opioid Settlement Money
UCHRA Executive Director Mark Farley said he wants to plan a regional opioid summit on how to spend opioid abatement money. Farley said a lot of communities are already receiving payments from court settlements. Farley said the summit would review how the money can be used. “One of the things that we want to make […]
Farley: Empower Upper Cumberland To Roll Out Next Year
UCHRA Executive Director Mark Farley said he is confident that the newly funded “Empower Upper Cumberland” initiative will be successful. The Human Resource Agency was awarded $25 million in federal funding Thursday to implement a three-year pilot to reduce poverty. Farley said the relationship-based model has worked in multiple other states. “So while we are […]
