Community Action Network's Rozann Downing details their home repair program for seniors and veterans. Presentation from the Housing Assistance Councils symposium "Housing Seniors & Veterans in Rural America: Preservation, Development and Services" in Council Bluffs, IA on August 28-29, 2013

1. Community Action
Network, Inc. (CAN)
Rozann Downing

2. THE VISION
To create and expand affordable, safe,
permanent and quality housing options
for Rural West & Rural Middle
Tennessee.
• Specifically meeting the needs of Veterans,
Military Families, & Seniors
THE MISSION
To promote rural development by producing
affordable housing and increasing the skill
and employability of participants through
hands on training.

3. •Promoting Affordable Housing
for 8 years
•Providing a full array Housing
Services

4. CAN’s
Service Area

5. CAN’s Housing Services
(2009):
• Homeownership (80%)
• Homeowner Repair (10%)
• Housing Counseling (5%)
• Rental Homes (5%)

6. Meeting our Community Needs
• Assess the Needs in our Community for
Veterans & Seniors
• Attend & Set-up at all Community Outreach
Programs
• Collaborate with Service Providers in our
Community

7. CAN’s Housing Services
(2013):
• Homeownership (30%)
• Homeowner Repair (40%)
• Housing Counseling (10%)
• Rental Homes (20%)

9. 1. Home Depot Foundation
2. Rural Development-HPG
3. Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati-
Accessibility Repair
4. Home Depot Donations-Framing for Hope
5. Rural Development-504 Loan Program
6. HAC-Senior Housing & Veteran Housing
Initiative
7. Center for Independent Living Part B Funding
8. Veteran Administration
Homeowner Repair Funding

10. Rental Homes
• THDA-HOME
• THDA-Housing Trust Fund
• THDA-NSP
• Community Development Block Grant
• Rental Assistance-HUD-SHP & VA-SSFV

11. CAN’s Strategies
 Solicit Board Members that are Veterans &
Military Families and/or Seniors
Apply for Grants for Homeowner Repair
targeting veterans & Seniors and Rental
Homes
Hire Unemployed Veterans
Collaborate with Other Service Providers

12. CAN’s Employees
• CAN, Inc. has 6 Employees, 4 of the
Employees are on the Construction Crew
• 2 CAN Employees are veterans that had
been unemployed
• CAN is a Licensed Contractor
• Evaluation and Cost Effectiveness of
Employees versus Subcontracting Home
Repair and Home Modification

13. Partnering with Other
Agencies:
• Office on Aging and Disability
• Damascus Road Homeless Shelter
• USDA Rural Development
• TARP Center for Independent Living
• American Legion/VFW
• West TN Continuum of Care TN Homeless
Solutions

14. Home Depot Foundation &
Framing for Hope

15. We can change the current housing
situation for Veterans and Seniors-
through
intention, strategy, collaboration
and community!