Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency, Inc.

Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency, Inc. has served low-income populations in Northeast Tennessee’s Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington Counties for 46 years, and has operated an IDA program for 12 years. The organization receives funds from a number of other ACF programs, including Head Start CSBG and LIHEAP. UETHDA provides emergency mortgage, rent, utilities, food, clothing, and household assistance. Mayors of each county in the service area and the cities of Kingsport and Rogersville serve on the board along with the district’s State Representative and citizen representatives. UETHDA’s previous IDA efforts have resulted in 73 first time homeowners, 13 post-secondary education investments and 3 micro-enterprise projects. A 2006 AFI IDA Grant has supported 53 asset purchases: 49 home purchases and 4 education investments and has a waiting list of more than 50 aspiring participants.

This project will serve 49 participants, matching savings 2:1 up to $2,000, and allows all three AFI asset targets. The maximum match that may be achieved by each participant is $4, 000. Participants are required to take asset specific classes or counseling and financial literacy classes, and may be enrolled up to the length of the grant, although the average completion period is 2 years. The grantee will devote 98% of Federal funds requested to participant match, with the required 2% set aside for program evaluation.

See above.