News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Jackson County handed out more than 20 applications for the Tennessee Housing Development Agency HOME Program Thursday afternoon.
The program provides grant assistance to help those with low-income, owner-occupied households that need rehabilitation or reconstruction. Mayor Randy Heady said that he’s excited for his community to have the chance for a life-changing opportunity.
“We’re somewhere around 24 or 25 percent of (people at the) poverty level in the county by the national standard,” Heady said. “That’s given to us by them. With that being said, that tells you what the need is. It’s pretty huge.”
Heady said that he believes all individuals in the county who apply for the grant will qualify. He said that who gets the grant funding will come down to who needs the work most based on an inspection from a third-party and ranking system.
“The rating system is based on points,” Heady said. “So it’s all about points. The most deprived households will have the highest number of points. Information for determination of points is taken from the application submitted by the homeowner, so it’s really important that on this application you fill it out completely, because that’s going to determine the points and those matter here.”
Heady said the county has been awarded some $500,000 in funding, and that they will complete projects one by one until funds run out. He said that the last time they completed work through the grant they were able to rehab or reconstruct seven homes.
Resident Kathy Holland said that came to the public hearing for information and to get an application for work on her mother’s home.
“I do need some work on my house,” Holland said. “I don’t want a new house or anything, I wouldn’t move out of my house for nothing. But I do need things done, thinking about windows, floors.”
Heady said that it is not up to the homeowner or the county who gets what done. He said that will be decided by the work of an inspector who then give his recommendations. He said that if the homeowners do not want that work done, the county asks that they make that clear before dollars are spent.
