Thursday, July 25, 2013

United Housing Helps 3,000th Homebuyer


Lisa Brice with Tim Bolding, Executive Director of United Housing

After living for seven years in her townhome, Lisa Brice’s world was turned upside down when the water was turned off in the community earlier this year. Brice, who lived in the home with her two teenage daughters, was forced to look for a new place to live. While they stayed in the townhome during the transition, Brice and her two daughters made daily visits to the home of Brice’s mother, where they showered and had access to running water.

After looking for several months, Brice found a house that she loved and discovered it was one of United Housing, Inc.’s homes. Soon after, she contacted the organization in order to identify the steps she needed to take to purchase the home. 

Sharon Walker, Homebuyer Education Manager, worked with Brice and her realtor to help identify financial assistance programs that she qualified for based on her situation. After hearing her story, United Housing immediately helped Brice by allowing her to temporarily rent the home until she was able to file all of the necessary paperwork to purchase it.

Brice took part in United Housing’s Homebuyer Education class, which provides free homeownership education for first-time or repeat homebuyers. The class helped Brice prepare for the purchasing process from beginning to end, as well as understand the paperwork she had to sign. Tammy Coleman, Lending Manager with United Housing, also worked with Brice through the processing of her first mortgage and down payment assistance loan to ensure a smooth transition for her family. 

In total, United Housing helped Brice receive $27,000 in grants through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program and the Memphis-Shelby County Helping Homebuyers Program. With this assistance, Brice was able to purchase the home and became United Housing’s 3,000th customer in its nearly twenty-year history.

“Thanks to United Housing, I feel very blessed and happy to be in my new home,” said Brice.

Monday, July 15, 2013

UHI Begins 5th Home at Wolf River Bluffs

United Housing begins the second round of construction in the North Memphis development, Wolf River Bluffs for case management agency, Meritan, Incorporated. 

The home will feature full wheelchair accessibility, MLGW EcoBuild specifications, and solar photo voltaic panels to continue the energy saving and energy producing amenities at Wolf River Bluffs development. 

This home will house three individuals receiving services from Meritan, Inc. Meritan delivers health, social and support services for individuals and families living with the effects of aging, vision loss and blindness, and other disabilities. This home will allow Meritan customers to stay independent while still receiving the care they need. The Assisi Foundation assisted with the funding of this home that will be a model for the future partnership between Meritan, Inc. and United Housing, as we move into renovations of 8 more existing homes for Meritan customers using CHDO Home Funds from the state of Tennessee.


This home is constructed by NBC Contractors - Picture courtesy of Michael Brunk, Practical Contracting