United Housing Celebrates Completion of First Market Rate Homes in Wolf River Bluffs

Nonprofit hosts special guests including Mayor Luttrell to commemorate day

United Housing Inc. officially unveiled the first four homes for purchase in the organization’s Wolf River Bluffs development during a  ceremony on November 14. Located in Frayser, the first phase of the Wolf River Bluffs development will include 34 single-family homes that feature eco-friendly amenities and a universal design to ensure functionality, mobility and accessibility for all people.

“What an exciting day for our team, board members and city officials to celebrate the tremendous progress we’ve made on this project,” said Tim Bolding, Executive Director of United Housing, Inc. “We’re thrilled to have completed our first four market rate homes and are proud that they will offer significant energy savings to residents. With easy access to Midtown and Downtown Memphis and plenty of parks and trails nearby, it’s clear that our Wolf River Bluffs neighborhood is a true gem in Memphis.”

During the special unveiling event, Bolding welcomed attendees and introduced Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell, who spoke about the significant advantages of the eco-friendly neighborhood and what it meant for Memphis and Shelby County. Afterward, several individuals involved with the neighborhood joined Bolding and Mayor Luttrell to cut a ribbon to signify the official completion of the four homes.

Afterward, guests were able to tour the homes, which each offer three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a great room and eat-in kitchen housed within 1,500 square feet. The homes are also Memphis Light Gas and Water (MLGW) EcoBUILD certified and feature solar panels by Sharp Manufacturers, high-efficiency windows and Energy Star appliances.

  

United Housing to Host Wolf River Bluffs Development Open House

United Housing invites you to join us for a special open house in our Wolf River Bluffs development this Thursday (11/14) at 2 p.m. in Frayser. The event will take place at 2082 Adderley Lane, which is located near the intersection of James Rd. and McLean Blvd.

This special event will unveil the marketable homes we’re building and celebrate the progress we’ve made in the Frayser neighborhood. The ceremony will begin with opening remarks from Tim Bolding and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell. Afterward, guests will be able to tour the first completed marketable home, which features many energy-efficient components.

When completed, the Wolf River Bluffs development will consist of 34 single-family marketable homes that are Memphis Light, Gas and Water EcoBUILD certified and feature an eco-friendly design with solar generated electricity.

For more information or to RSVP to this special event, please contact Amy Schaftlein at (901) 728-6937.

United Housing Transfers Wolf River Bluffs Home to Meritan

United Housing Inc. officially transferred a home in its Wolf River Bluffs development to longtime partner Meritan during a recent ceremony. Located in Memphis, Meritan is a private, not-for-profit agency that provides home health, personal care, and intellectual and developmental disability services. 

“This is the first home completed for Meritan by United Housing,” said Tim Bolding, Executive Director of United Housing, Inc. “It’s rewarding for our team to partner with such a tremendous organization and we’re excited to start building more homes for the individuals served by Meritan.”

During the special event, Deborah Cotney cut the ribbon to signify the completion of the home, which is named Deborah Cotney Cottage. Cotney is the former Executive Director of Meritan and the home was named to honor her thirty years of service to the agency. Afterward, guests were able to tour the home’s interior, which was built to accommodate three individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

United Housing has worked with Meritan for several years on the common goal to increase livability among the most vulnerable populations in Memphis. Both organizations are United Way of the Mid-South agencies and members of the Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence and the Nonprofit Leadership Collaborative.

“Meritan is proud of our partnership with United Housing,” said Melanie Keller Meritan’s Executive Director. “Our combined efforts are resulting in community housing and support for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. We feel our relationship exemplifies how two nonprofits with seemingly different missions can join together to serve our community. We look forward to continuing to work with United Housing on future projects.”

After the event, Bolding announced that United Housing was awarded a three million dollar grant from The Tennessee Department of Economic Development’s 2008 Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Funds. The money will be used to build 16 homes for individuals served by Meritan and SRVS, which provides services to people with disabilities.

About Meritan

Established in 1961, Meritan is a private, not-for-profit agency accredited by the Council on Accreditation and holds licenses in Tennessee to provide home health, personal care, and intellectual and developmental disability services.  The agency also provides senior employment services in Tennessee and holds child placement licenses in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Georgia. For more information, please visit www.meritan.org.

United Housing and Binghampton Development Corporation Recognized with THDA Founders Award

United Housing, Inc. was recently recognized by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) during a recent industry peer session. Tim Bolding, Executive Director of United Housing and Sharon Walker, United Housing’s Homebuyer Education Manager, joined Ruth Gibson of the Binghampton Development Corporation to accept THDA’s Founders Award. The award recognized the two organizations for their efforts in creating the foundation for homebuyer education in Tennessee.

“Tim, Sharon and Ruth were all instrumental in providing insight, opinion and participation in THDA’s early efforts to establish the homebuyer education counseling program,” said Lindsay Hall, Senior Director of Single Family Programs at Tennessee Housing Development Agency.

New research on the effectiveness of pre-purchase housing counseling and education shows that homebuyers who received such advice were one-third less likely to fall behind on their mortgages 90 days or more, two years after taking out the loan, compared to homebuyers who didn’t receive similar counseling and education. The research was done for NeighborWorks America, a national nonprofit affiliated with United Housing, by Neil Mayer and Associates and Experian, and is based on approximately 75,000 mortgage loans originated in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

“The latest research clearly tells us that we need to help families with their housing issues ahead of time, staving off family stress, financial difficulties and costs that are borne by neighbors and the city,” said Bolding. “The proven effectiveness of homebuyer education, as well as the recent recognition from THDA, is encouraging to our team, who has worked diligently to ensure our counseling program is meeting the needs of our customers. Our experience in education and counseling is complemented by our partner in this award, who is using a holistic approach to communicate to and serve the residents of Binghampton.”

During the last fiscal year, United Housing counseled more than 1,000 individuals and families through its Homebuyer Education and Foreclosure Prevention programs. The organization also assisted 541 families during the year, helping 284 purchase a home while helping save 257 from foreclosure. Last year, Binghampton Development Corporation assisted 291 clients, including 76 homebuyer clients and 131 foreclosure interventions.

“We’re very proud to share this recognition with United Housing, who like Binghampton, is doing significant work to help struggling families in our community,” said Robert Montague, Executive Director of Binghampton Development Corporation.

In addition to the THDA recognition, United Housing recently received a counseling grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The grant, awarded in two installments by NeighborWorks America, will fund a portion of United Housing’s housing counseling and education expenses.

About Binghampton Development Corporation

The Binghampton Development Corporation was founded in 2003 and is an independent, nonprofit community development corporation. For more information, visit bdcmemphis.org.

UHI Attends Peer Session in Nashville

United Housing counseling staff attended the 2013 Homebuyer Education (HBE) Peer Session in Nashville this week. They took away two awards for being in the top ten producers in the state in loan production and foreclosure mitigation. Way to go team!

Pictured (L to R): Kendra Richardson, HBE Coordinator, Ralph Perrey, THDA Executive Director, Sharon Walker, HBE Manager at UHI,Tim Bolding, UHI Executive Director, Deanna Zell, Foreclosure Intervention Specialist, Priscilla Reed, Foreclosure Intervention Counselor.

Want to learn more about United Housing, visit our website!

United Housing Helps 3,000th Homebuyer

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 3,000^th 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.

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