CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The names of two new homeowners, Shalinda Robertson and Evelyn Ramos, were announced at The Press on Monday morning as part of a lottery for two new homes that will be completed in the summer of 2023.

Yolanda Stewart, executive director with Going Local Initiative, said the opportunity was made possible by a partnership with Mosaic Church, First Presbyterian Church, and Going Local Initiative.

“We formed the organization last year, and in December we received our certification as a community housing development organization,” she said. “This is a HUD certification that qualifies us to receive funds for the affordable housing initiatives.”

Stewart said the city awarded the nonprofit $350,000 to complete the two houses to help low to moderate income families.

“The first project is building two new homes on Richardson Street,” Stewart, noting the project focuses on rehabilitation and stabilization. “We are building in targeted areas, called opportunity zones. This is for the underserved, and the low to moderate income.”

The role of Going Local Initiative

“We are not the lender, we are the builder and the seller,” she said, noting today’s lottery winners must maintain satisfactory progress. “They have to meet basic eligibility (which means being) a first-time homebuyer, meet(ing) income guidelines set by HUD, and be(ing) able to qualify for a mortgage,” she said.

Dennis Newburn, executive director of Clarksville Neighborhood Community Service, was the brains behind the idea.

“I’ve been in Clarksville for two years and during that time, we have seen the process whereby there has been a whole lot of houses that have been built,” he said. “But there has never been enough housing for people that require subsidized assistance and so the very idea of increasing the portfolio here to address the concerns of subsidized housing needs is the basis behind this.

Stewart said there were 30 initial applicants and 15 who met criteria to be eligible to have their names placed in the drawing.

“This is the first of many more,” Stewart said. “For some families we are going to help make a difference in their lives.”