The Housing Hub’s newest two-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage will have 864 sq ft of living space, but its actual footprint will be much larger. That’s because the organization has set out to prove it can build an affordable home without any government subsidies.
This will be the third house in Grundy County, Tennessee, for the young organization. When an assessment in 2021 revealed the need for 650 more affordable local homes, nonprofits banded together to prioritize this crucial element of community development. The goal: to make safe, affordable housing accessible for those who keep communities running—teachers, healthcare workers, first responders, and service professionals. To increase affordability, Housing Hub recruits “angel investors” to fund the construction costs with a 0% loan.
Young adults training for the trades will construct the home through the Building Opportunities Program. In partnership with Mountain T.O.P., Housing Hub has been awarded a $75,000 Maximizing Appalachian Capacity (MAC) Grant for the workforce development program. Nine Fahe Members received a total of $2.4 million in direct investment to strengthen local capacity for affordable housing and community development in the region, established as part of the Housing Can’t Wait campaign.
The training program targets 18-24-year-olds who are not actively enrolled in any type of post-secondary education. Five trainees will receive a blend of hands-on experience and classroom learning for a 12-week period and earn an industry recognized Pre-Apprenticeship Credential. Personal development is woven in, covering topics like budgeting and vehicle maintenance. Those who complete the program receive placement assistance for a job or additional training.
The program builds on an existing partnership with Grundy County High School’s Career Technical Education students, who constructed a portion of Housing Hub’s first house. They framed half of the structure, installed roofing, windows, rough plumbing and some electrical. That section of the house was then delivered to the homesite. Thanks in part to the students’ efforts, that first home appraised for almost twice what it cost to build.