Habitat For Humanity Coming To White County

The Upper Cumberland Habitat for Humanity has added White County under its umbrella.

The Putnam County-based organization has expanded to Overton and Dekalb Counties in recent years. Upper Cumberland Habitat for Humanity Director Jeremy Byrd said White County just like the rest of the Upper Cumberland in currently experiencing a housing crisis.

“There are just no beginner homes that are being built,” Byrd said. “There are very few that are hitting the market that are what we would consider a safe and affordable range for people and so I would say that White County joins with every other county in the Upper Cumberland in saying that they need more housing.”

Once the White County takeover becomes official, Byrd said they will elect a new board of directors including White County residents. Byrd said with more partnerships they can start building houses in White County within the next two to three years.

The next step, Byrd said, is creating an advisory committee to help them get acquainted in White County.

“What they help us do is they help us understand the community better and help us understand the needs of the community,” Byrd said. “How we can become part of the community and not just someone from Cookeville coming down to White County to work, but actually become embedded there.”

Byrd said the goal is to build houses for applicants who have been involved with their program. Byrd said normally a buyer has spent 16-18 months within Habitat’s program.

“They are part of the habitat family at that point,” Byrd said. “When we hand them the keys to their home and they start making their payments we want to have them established and set up for success for years to come. I think for me the goal would be to begin well so that we can continue even better.”

Byrd said they want to build a strong organization which will take some time.