Oak Ridge Housing Authority Archives

THDA grant will help with down payment assistance in Oak Ridge

Posted at 9:13 am April 22, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Pictured above in front row are, left to right, Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson, Oak Ridge Housing Authority Commissioner Tom Beehan, Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, state Rep. John Ragan, ORHA Executive Director Maria Catron, and Tennessee Housing Development Agency Industry and Government Affairs Liaison Katie Moore; and back row, left to right, ORHA Commissioner Jim Palmer, ORHA Board Chair Jean Lantrip, and ORHA Board Secretary Sharon Crane. (Photo courtesy THDA)

The Tennessee Housing Development Agency has awarded a $106,000 HOME Program grant to the Oak Ridge Housing Authority that will be used to help low-income families purchase a new home.

The Oak Ridge Housing Authority will use the funding to provide assistance up to $14,999 to cover down payment and closing costs for eligible first-time home buyers living in the city limits, a press release said.

“A down payment is often the biggest hurdle to overcome for working families wanting to buy a home,” THDA Executive Director Ralph M. Perrey said. “These funds will allow first-time home buyers who would otherwise be able to afford a mortgage payment to overcome that obstacle.”

ORHA Executive Director Maria Catron said the grant will be used to help low-to-moderate income families, with the exact amount awarded based on the gap needed to cover the buyer’s down payment and closing costs.

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge Housing Authority hires executive director

Posted at 4:49 pm August 20, 2019
By Kay Brookshire Leave a Comment

Maria Catron

Maria Catron, deputy director of the Kingsport Housing and Redevelopment Authority, will become the executive director of the Oak Ridge Housing Authority in September.

Jean Lantrip, ORHA Board chair, announced the board’s decision to name Catron the new executive director, a press release said.

“In her visit to Oak Ridge, Maria impressed us with her serious interest in improving public housing through community projects and her history of collaborating with a number of stakeholders, including city government,” Lantrip said in the press release. “With her outgoing personality, she has the knack of connecting with everyone she meets.”

Catron, who has worked with the Kingsport housing agency since 2004, began her career there as grants and community development coordinator, later serving as Hope VI community supportive services coordinator and self-sufficiency and homeownership administrator before becoming deputy director in 2014. [Read more…]

Public Notice: ORHA Advertisement for Bids

Posted at 2:26 pm March 25, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Sealed bids for “Roof Replacement at Knoll Lane and Wade Lane, Oak Ridge, Tennessee” will be received by the Oak Ridge Housing Authority at the Housing Authority Office, 10 Van Hicks, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, until 2:00 p.m., local time, on April 11, 2019 and then at said time publicly opened and read aloud.

A PreBid Conference will be held at the Housing Authority Community Room, 76 Honeysuckle Lane, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, at 1:00 p.m., local time, on March 28, 2019. All bidders are strongly encouraged to attend this meeting.

The Instructions to Bidders, Form of Agreement, Drawings, Specifications, Forms of Bid Bond and of Performance Bonds, and other bidding instruments may be examined at: [Read more…]

Today: State of city housing to be discussed

Posted at 10:19 am September 18, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The speaker for Lunch with the League on Tuesday, September 18, will be Anne Dunthorn, commissioner of the Oak Ridge Housing Authority. Her discussion will include current initiatives for middle class families and new initiatives for permanent and rental housing, a press release said.

The meeting will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, the press release said.

A longtime citizen of Oak Ridge and Anderson County, Dunthorn has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in economics from the University of Tennessee. She has served as business manager and consultant with C F Systems, technical consulting services, since 1977. In the Housing and Urban Development arena, her work has included serving as grant writer, team leader, and developer of multi-family properties for nonprofit organizations that target people with special needs, the press release said. [Read more…]

Housing Authority dedicates administration building in honor of James A. Carson

Posted at 9:02 pm October 16, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

A resident of Oak Ridge, James A. Carson served the Oak Ridge Housing Authority as its executive director for 33 years. Carson retired from OHRA in December 2016. On Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, the ORHA Board of Commissioners honored his many years of service through the dedication of the Administration building. (Submitted photo)

A resident of Oak Ridge, James A. Carson served the Oak Ridge Housing Authority as its executive director for 33 years.

“He consistently showed a great respect for diversity, and in all things pursued fair policies and actions,” a press release said. “He worked tirelessly to make ORHA sustainable, and faithfully served the low-income and economically disadvantaged in our community.”

Carson retired from OHRA in December 2016. [Read more…]

Landlord summit for Anderson County landlords on Friday

Posted at 9:50 am May 15, 2017
By Annie Cacheiro Leave a Comment

There will be a free landlord summit for all Anderson County landlords in Oak Ridge on Friday.

The landlord summit is being hosted by Tennessee Valley Continuum of Care. It is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, May 19, at the Scarboro Community Center, which is at 148 Carver Avenue in Oak Ridge. The event will include a free continental breakfast, which will begin at 8:30 a.m., a press release said. Reservations are not required.

The press release said landlords are encouraged to attend because many helpful topics will be offered, including:

MORE2 (Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient)—These are energy-saving upgrades available to Oak Ridge homes for lower income home owners and renters.
Housing Choice Voucher Program—Learn how landlords can secure rental payments by participating in this program.
Case Management—Learn how case management from various nonprofit organizations can help your tenant be successful in housing.
Free Legal Information—Learn about new housing laws, eviction requirements, fair housing, and other valuable topics.

[Read more…]

A first in Anderson County: Oak Ridge home demolished as part of state blight elimination program

Posted at 11:50 am May 3, 2017
By John Huotari 2 Comments

The first home to be torn down in Anderson County as part of the state’s HHF Blight Elimination Program was being demolished at 678 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was last updated at 12:30 p.m.

It’s being described as a first: An Oak Ridge home is being demolished Wednesday as part of a state blight elimination program. It’s the first home to be torn down in Anderson County as part of the state’s HHF Blight Elimination Program.

The property being demolished is at 678 West Outer Drive. It’s owned by the Oak Ridge Land Bank. The demolition, being done by First Place Finish, is estimated to cost close to $3,600, and it is expected to be completed today (Wednesday, May 3).

The work is being funded by the U.S. Treasury’s Hardest Hit Fund, or HHF. Tennessee’s HHF Blight Elimination Program is administered by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, or THDA. Anderson County is one of six counties in the Volunteer State included in the program.

Under the Blight Elimination Program, qualified nonprofits and land banks can apply for loans of up to $25,000 to cover the cost of acquiring a blighted abandoned home, demolishing it, “greening” the property, and maintaining the vacant lot. The greened lot can then be transformed into new affordable housing or another use that is approved by THDA and is expected to stabilize and improve the neighborhood. [Read more…]

Housing report recommends more new homes, rental units

Posted at 10:07 am April 20, 2017
By John Huotari 7 Comments

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and its Housing Task Force, which was chaired by Melinda Hillman, right, presented a housing report to the Oak Ridge City Council during a non-voting work session on Tuesday, April 18, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and its Housing Task Force, which was chaired by Melinda Hillman, right, present a housing report to the Oak Ridge City Council during a non-voting work session on Tuesday, April 18, 2017. At left is Parker Hardy, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce president. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The competition to provide housing for workers is fierce, and Oak Ridge needs more new homes in the $180,000-$280,000 price range and more rental units in the $900-$1,200 price range, according to a housing report presented to Oak Ridge City Council by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.

Also proposed in the housing report: the development of attractive, convenient mixed use gathering spaces; improving the appearance of existing neighborhoods through aggressive codes enforcement; beautification projects in public spaces to make Oak Ridge more appealing; developing and implementing a consistent “brand” for Oak Ridge that encompasses livability, economic development, and tourism; incentivizing home improvements in the Manhattan District Overlay; and developing public/private partnerships to work on housing.

The report, which was presented to City Council in a non-voting work session on Tuesday, studied where Oak Ridge employees live, based upon the zip codes of 7,372 employees from eight major Oak Ridge employers. It found that 22 percent of Oak Ridge workers live in Oak Ridge. That’s compared to 44 percent who live in Knox County, primarily in Farragut, Hardin Valley, Northshore, Karns, and Cedar Bluff.

Ten percent of the Oak Ridge workers live in Roane County, 6 percent live in Clinton, and less than five percent each live in Loudon, Blount, Morgan, and other counties, the report said.

The housing report only reviewed Oak Ridge as it compares to the five most popular communities where people who work in Oak Ridge choose to live (Farragut, Hardin Valley, Northshore, Karns, and Cedar Bluff).

“Competition for residents is fierce, and Oak Ridge competes with some of the most desirable communities in the region,” the report said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Housing Authority director retiring after 33 years

Posted at 5:34 pm October 17, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

Jim Carson

Jim Carson, executive director of the Oak Ridge Housing Authority, is retiring after 33 years.

Carson, an Oak Ridge resident, announced his intent to retire on December 31 at the September 26 ORHA board meeting, a press release said. Carson has been ORHA executive director for 33 years.

ORHA has an operating budget of about $1 million, and it has about nine employees, the press release said. It manages 128 public housing units on sites scattered around the city, and it currently issues roughly 230 Housing Choice Vouchers and 35 Veterans Assisted Supportive Housing vouchers. [Read more…]

TORCH: Proud of community support for Applewood residents, but still work to do

Posted at 5:44 pm September 23, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Applewood Apartments Hunter Circle Aug 8 2016 1

As of Friday, September 23, there were still 11 households that might not have a place to live when Applewood Apartments closes on September 30, according to an organization that helps homeless families in Anderson County. Pictured above is an Applewood Apartments building on Hunter Circle on Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The closure of the 13-building apartment complex on Hillside Road and Hunter Circle in the Highland View neighborhood was announced in early August.

Andy O’Quinn of Trinity Out-Reach Center of Hope, or TORCH, which is based in Oak Ridge, said he is “extremely proud” of the way the community and its organizations have worked together to help Applewood residents, but there is still work to do.

“At the moment, we are looking for landlords that would be willing to rent by the month to a few people that who receive a disability check and will be getting into income-based housing but need a place to go in the meantime,” O’Quinn said in a Friday status report. “We are also seeking two- and three-bedroom rentals below $550. for our working families. If you think you might have a unit to rent, please e-mail Andy O’Quinn at [email protected].” [Read more…]

Land Bank has first housing strategy meeting on Thursday

Posted at 1:53 pm May 8, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Land Bank Corporation will host its first housing strategy meeting on Thursday. The goal is to address the city’s housing situation while building partnerships in a collaborative effort to promote the city “as the place to live and work by improving our community’s neighborhoods,” a press release said.

The work session is scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 14, at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

Agenda items including the state of housing, a mobile tour, and partner presentations by ADFAC (Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties), Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County, Oak Ridge Housing Authority, and Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. [Read more…]

City Council to have mid-year election in July to fill board, commission vacancies

Posted at 8:47 pm June 17, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge City Council will have a mid-year election on July 14 to fill vacancies on municipal boards and commissions.

The Oak Ridge City Clerk’s Office started accepting applications on June 2. To be considered, applicants must be Oak Ridge residents and complete an application by noon Friday, June 20, 2014. Late applications will not be considered.

The boards and commissions with vacancies include Board of Building and Housing Code Appeals, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Oak Ridge Housing Authority, Recreation and Parks Advisory Board, Senior Advisory Board, and Traffic Safety Advisory Board.

Visit the city’s website for more information.