News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Sparta Housing Authority celebrated the completion of 12 remodeled homes with a ribbon cutting Wednesday.
The Authority used a $2 million grant from the National Housing Trust Fund to refurbish the homes on Harris Street. Executive Director Jim Payne said the units were remodeled for tenants who are 62 years old or older.
“We see the need for the elderly,” Payne said. “The population is getting older. We felt like it was the appropriate thing for taking care of the elderly and affordable housing, and providing a decent, safe, sanitary place to live.”
Payne said COVID delayed the project for years. Payne said the houses that were remodeled were in bad condition as they were built in 1972. Payne said the completion of the project has been a long time coming.
“Who would’ve known that we were going to run into a pandemic to slow everything down,” Payne said. “You can figure we’ve been at it since 2019 applying for the grant and we just finished here in 2024.”
Sparta Resident Betty Johnson said after her husband passed away she needed to downsize and finding a place was difficult. Johnson will be moving into one of the units next week and she said it has been a blessing.
“Well it means the world to me,” Johnson said. “Look at all the prices everywhere else. You can’t find a house that is affordable, but thank god these are.”
Payne said the houses were completely redone and are handicap accessible. Payne said even though the Sparta Housing Authority is a small agency the group will continue to help in any way they can.
