Memphis Department of Housing and Community Development Collaborates with Partners to Build Affordable Housing in Orange Mound
The City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development (HCD), along with United Housing, Inc., THDA, Bank3, and My Cup of Tea, is breaking ground on a new affordable housing initiative in Orange Mound. The ceremony will take place at 824 Semmes, on Tuesday, August 13, at noon. This project will see the construction of single-family, accessible homes on a previously vacant lot. The project is partly funded also by the Tennessee American Rescue Plan.
Ashley Cash, HCD Director, says: “we keep supporting the work that our certified Community Housing Development Associations (CHDO’s), -like United Housing- are doing in different neighborhoods along the city, in order to make more and more affordable houses available to low to moderate income Memphians”.
United Housing Inc. is a nonprofit dedicated to providing affordable housing solutions across Memphis, Shelby County, and West Tennessee. For three decades, the organization has supported families who are underserved by traditional homeownership avenues. Besides development, they also educate potential homeowners about their rights and financing opportunities, and they advocate for greater access to affordable quality for all.
“Affordable, safe, and accessible housing is a cornerstone of Memphis’ growth,” said Amy Schaftlein, executive director of United Housing. “We must focus on both the rehabilitation of existing homes and the construction of new, accessible units. This development marks a significant advancement, demonstrating how we can effectively utilize available land within the city to expand housing options.”
The land was donated by the community-based nonprofit My Cup of Tea, which has been working for the improvement of the Orange Mound community since its inception.
“We’ve served and employed more than 100 women and their families in the Orange Mound neighborhood, and virtually all have struggled to find safe, affordable housing, said Carey Moore, founder and CEO of My Cup of Tea, Inc. “The ability to escape poverty is dependent on a secure environment for taking care of your family and rent or a mortgage that leaves you with enough to pay for necessities. These homes will have a stabilizing effect on the families who live there and on the broader community.”
This phase of the development will feature four homes designed using two Liberty House Plans models, which have been tailored by local architects at Self+Tucker to meet the needs of a diverse population.Each single-story home will include three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with at least one bathroom designed to meet ADA standards, ensuring accessibility for all residents.
The completed homes will be offered to low-to-moderate income families and individuals. United Housing will oversee the sales process, providing homebuyer education, down payment assistance, and low-interest mortgage financing to ensure that new homeowners are well-equipped to manage their properties.
United Housing and its partners will inform the community when the homes are available for purchase. In the meantime, residents are encouraged to enroll in a Homebuyer Education course to begin preparing for homeownership.