CHA Resident Council
The five resident councils of the Chattanooga Housing Authority were recognized at the National Alliance of Resident Services in Affordable and Assisted Housing, garnering the top award as Resident Council of the Year in the nation.
The resident councils came together to develop and support the “One Westside” Plan that not only leverages the momentum of the surrounding areas, but ensures that development in the neighborhood will respect and honor residents who currently call the Westside home. Westside residents Sharon Dragg and Kendra Lawrence engaged in almost every aspect of planning, while Resident Commissioner and Mary Walker Resident Council President Jeff McClendon provided hours of bus transportation through Ascension Alexian Brothers for Westside residents to attend numerous opportunities to engage them in the planning effort.
Westside residents Benny Haynes, Susan Dover, Willie Carter, Pauline King, Carla Elliott, Reuben Lawrence, Jr., and Janice Terry were recognized for their work in making sure residents experience quality of life by acting as liaisons with the CHA and engaging in monthly meetings. The group was instrumental in promoting events like the Senior June Jam and providing commodities and resources to their respective sites. Resident Carla Elliott is also a member of Mayor Tim Kelly’s Council on Disability and is a strong advocate for her neighbors with accessibility needs.
Resident leaders Bonita Johnson, Irma Harris and Juanyelle Williams worked in advocating for residents at their sites. Their volunteer hours included resident advisory board sessions, events, and the coordination of resources among a scattering of smaller sites. Housing Choice Voucher Program resident leader Delaine Boston has been instrumental in working with her fellow peers in the important work behind the One Westside Plan.
The result is five strong resident councils, with two more in the process of joining as official HUD recognized resident councils in the coming months. These residents put their passion, courage, and commitment to work in their communities which resulted in a robust planning process that began in the midst of the pandemic, said officials.
Beginning in March 2020, over 60 resident meetings occurred. Residents were engaged in conversations, planning, surveys, oral history, memory boards, workshops, creativity through art, pop-ups, block parties, visioning, award celebrations, and numerous meetings with the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County governments. Their efforts led to One Westside being selected as one of nine programs across the nation to be interviewed out of 28 applications.
Ultimately, One Westside was chosen as one of seven in the country to receive HUD’s CHOICE Neighborhoods Implementation Grant for the revitalization of the College Hill Courts and the Westside Community. The work of these residents led to the award of $50 million that will be used to transform the community many have called home for several generations.
CHA leaders noted, “The efforts by our residents culminating in One Westside resulted in funding and opportunities that will provide generational change. We’re grateful that their hard work has resulted in being named Resident Council of the Year by NAR-SAAH. There’s no higher honor in public housing and we’re humbled to have their work recognized.”
In addition to the national award given to the Chattanooga Housing Authority’s Resident Councils, the CHA was also awarded the Significant Achievement Award by HUD’s Tennessee State Office of Public Housing. The award was presented for the CHA’s “…sustained commitment to helping Americans secure quality housing in recognition of outstanding performance.” This is the first time that the CHA has received such an accolade and added to the excitement of the CHA’s monthly board meeting.
“Our residents, staff and board members are so deserving of this recognition,” said CHA executive director Betsy McCright. “All of the hard work is paying off and motivates us to do even more. We couldn’t be more honored or humbled by this recognition.”
CHA's Betsy McCright and Jeff McClendon