H.O.M.E Moving In First Resident Into Transitional Community

A community effort to house the displaced in McMinnville will be moving in its first residents this month to a new transitional community.

Homeless of McMinnville Effort Co-Founder Shelia Fann said the organization will work to slowly move-in eight residents into their new mini homes.

“There have been so many who have given there time and resources,” Fann said. “In particular, Hines Construction. They have been just amazing, but there are so many who have given to make this dream a reality.”

Fann said a resident has been selected for the first home. Fann said in order to qualify, one most be located in the McMinnville area for at least a year, have no major crime charges and be drug-free.

“It’s very new to the community, and it’s very new to Middle Tennessee and beyond,” Fann said. “There is one in Nashville that is similar, but they have to have a medical condition to be eligible.”

Fann said she sees the community as a new model to combat homelessness. Fann said the organization wants to offer services such as financial management and resume building at the community to give a hand up.

The mini homes have been constructed on Sunset Point Road. The land was donated by the city of McMinnville with local churches and volunteers conducting most of the work.

“In the big picture, it’s not been a long-time,” Fann said. “We have been in operation since late December in 2019 and we obtained the land official in August or September 2021.”

Fann said it has been “nothing short of amazing” seeing some three years of work come together.