The City of Clarksville Office of Housing and Community Development announced today that applications for the 2009 Good Neighbor Volunteer Home Repair Program are now available  through March 31, 2009.

This year’’s program is expected to provide assistance to approximately 40 homeowners. Eligible applications will be accepted on a first come first serve basis. Many low-income homeowners who have lived in their home for years desperately need home repairs but are unable to afford the expense.

Having decent housing- the comfort of a sound livable home equates to peace of mind and helps revitalize neighborhoods. Annually the City partners with local faith based organizations to help revitalize and repair homes for low-moderate income residents. The repairs are funded with grant money from the City’’s Community Development Block Grant provided through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the labor is donated.

Volunteers work in crews to repair homes of seniors, disabled and low income households. The repairs include roof replacements; exterior power washing painting, ramps, porch repairs and yard clean up.
In the past two years the City’s Good Neighbor Volunteer Home Repair Program has assisted more than 25 families. This year the City is pleased to have two faith-based organizations generously donating expertise and time to help local residents.

Through a one-week program sponsored by the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Clarksville Baptist Association more than 250 volunteers will help repair and revitalize homes in the City’’s special emphasis neighborhoods.

World Changer Volunteers will be in Clarksville from June 27-July 4, 2009.
On September 26, 2009, Grace Community Church, a local congregation will organize over 1000 volunteers to assist homeowners with limited resources by providing fresh coats of paint, roof repairs and critical home improvements. The group will also provide assistance to local non profits and some renters.
These are great programs that improve the quality of life in our community by repairing and redeveloping housing units. In exchange for building materials and coordination from the Office of Housing and Community Development, these faith groups contribute the necessary labor and invaluable skills.

It is the best way to bring together volunteers and public resources to make the most of our funding and invest in our neighborhoods.

Eligible applicants must have owned their home for at least one year, be low-moderate income based on federal guidelines, and reside in the home that is to be repaired. In addition, all city and county property taxes must be paid through December 2008.

Homeowners who received assistance in 2008 are not eligible for this year’’s program. Renters must have a lease and the landlord must sign an agreement to allow the work to be performed.

For more information contact the City of Clarksville Office of Housing and Community Development (931) 648-6133 Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:00-4:30 p.m.

Applications are available on the City’’s website (www.cityofclarksville.com), Clarksville Montgomery County Public Library and at City Hall, One Public Square, Suite 201.

The purpose of this meeting is to solicit comments in regard to the development of the Annual Action Plan for the current Five-Year Consolidated Plan which focuses primarily on housing choice and opportunities for low -moderate income citizens in the City of Clarksville. The overriding goals of the plan include: creation of a suitable living environment; provision of safe decent housing and the expansion of economic opportunities.

The City of Clarksville expects to receive approximately $ 750,000 Community Development Block Grant Funds and $ 425,000 in HOME Investment Partnership Funds. Funds may be used for a wide variety of housing and community development activities including provisions of assistance to the homeless and various activities to improve the quality of life for low-moderate income persons. The funds will be available in July 2009.

These hearings are accessible to persons with disabilities. Persons requiring reasonable accommodations, including sign language interpreters, Assistive Listening Devices, print materials in alternate formats should contact the Office of Housing and Community Development at 931-648-6133 at least 72 hours prior to the public hearing. If you need language translation services please also call Rita Arancibia, Director at least 72 hours prior to the meeting.

On December 9, 2008 students from the University of Tennessee School of Architecture and Design will present their design-studio work from 12:00 Noon to 3:00 pm. in the large meeting room at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Library located at 350 Pageant Lane.

We hope that you will join us in celebrating their work and provide your input about their ideas. These designs are part of a collaborative partnership between the University of Tennessee and the City of Clarksville Office of Housing and Community Development. I believe that this project is another real opportunity to show what collaboration can do and to get us to think about our roles in the community, what housing should be and to show that affordable housing can be a higher quality design than what most people think.

The City will begin clearing the site in late December. The housing planned for the site is part of the Office of Housing and Community Development’s Workforce Housing Initiative. The community is invited to attend the presentation of designs.
You may contact Rita Arancibia at 931-648-6133 for more information.

Did you know that:

• Every day in Clarksville more than 225 persons rely on local hunger relief agencies for a noon meal.
• More than 200 persons rely on local congregations for their Sunday Lunch!
• Hundreds of children in our schools rely on the F.U.E.L program for food on week-ends.
• Hundreds of families visit local churches for food donations every month.

Several local organizations have joined hands to raise awareness and funds to feed our neighbors. Empty Bowls 2009 is scheduled to be held on February 12, 2009 with all proceeds benefiting local food banks and feeding agencies.    Empty Bowls is a nationally recognized event to help eliminate hunger and raise public awareness of hunger problems in communities across the U.S. and around the world.

Before that national event occurs, though, representatives of local churches and their ministries, and delegates from local organizations are invited to an informational session to learn about the Empty Bowls project on Thursday, October 16  at 11:30 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church,  317 Franklin Street, in Clarksville. To reserve a spot at the table, call  Tara at 648-8007 by October 14.

APSU Art students have made 250 handmade bowls that will be decorated by local seniors and Project Excel (Inner City youth, YMCA program) and local artists; twelve bowls will be made into celebrity bowls for a Gala and silent auction at the Museum. A Soup Supper will be held on Feb. 12, 2009. Ticket holders will pick out a handmade bowl and will be served soup, bread and a dessert. If you are an artist or know of someone who might want to hand paint a bowl for this project, please call Rita at 931-648-6133.

The Empty Bowls Porject is sponsored by the APSU Student Art League, Senior Citizens from Walking Horse Meadows, YMCA Project Excel Program, City of Clarksville Office of Housing and Community Development, Trinity Episcopal Church, and Clarksville Montgomery County Customs House Museum.