Housing Development Alliance

Sixteen years and one week ago, I started working at the Housing Development Alliance as its first employee. At that time, we had a budget of $35,000 for the year and high hopes. Sixteen years later, thanks to the hard work of the staff, board and volunteers, we have built a 137 new homes, acquired-repaired-sold 16 homes, completed over 275 repairs, and developed 35 rental units. Our budget is now in excess of $3.7 million. To put that in perspective, at our current rate of production we spend twice as much in a week as we did in the entire first year of operation! We have also expanded our service area taking on 3 underserved counties.

While it’s nice to think back on the last 16 years and all we have accomplished, I get even more excited to think about the next 16 years. Assuming a modest 5% per year increase in production, in the next 16 years we can build over 500 homes and repair another 1250! That would go long way towards wiping out substandard housing in our community.

I’ll confess that I find the numbers hard to believe. 500 homes? 1250 repairs? Can we really do all that? Then I remember that sixteen years ago, I could not imagine building 137 houses or completing 275 repairs. Yes, it will be a lot or work, but we have proved that we - our board, staff and volunteers - are not afraid of hard work. So I invite you to join with me for another 16 years hard work and great accomplishments. With so much to do, it’s time to get busy.

Labels: History, Scott McReynolds

posted by weeberdoll  # 1:12 PM