Community Outreach

Summer Food Service Program

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) was established to ensure that children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. Free meals, that meet Federal Nutrition guidelines, are provided to all children at approved SFSP sites. The SFSP operates during school vacations, primarily in the summer months from May to August. This is a federally funded U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service and State sponsored through the Tennessee Department of Human Services.

Neighborhood Stabilization Program

Through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), Southwest HRA was granted funds to purchase foreclosed properties that might otherwise become sources of abandonment and blight within our communities. The properties will be rehabilitated and sold to Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) eligible buyers at a reduced rate. Households must obtain permanent financing through the THDA Great Rate Mortgage, a USDA Rural Development Direct Loan, a Habitat for Humanity 0% mortgage loan or other non-profit sponsored first mortgage loan with prior approval of THDA. The household income must be at or below 120% of the area median income as defined by the Section 8 Rental Assistance Program. Southwest HRA operates the NSP program in Decatur, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, and McNairy Counties.

Currently Southwest HRA has acquired eleven (11) properties that will soon be ready for sell to eligible households. A full list of properties can be seen here:

http://www.jeremyhelton.com/articles/2011/04/432/

Homebuyer Education Initiative (HBEI)

This program exists to provide education and materials to qualified homebuyers as they navigate their way through the homebuying process. In addition, a "Realizing the American Dream" Certificate of Training will be presented upon completion of the course.

Telephone Assistance Program

Southwest HRA, as a Community Action Agency, has partnered with telephone companies to offer reduced rate or free phone services to our clients along with all low-income families in our area. A free cell phone along with sixty-eight (68) minutes of talk time per month may be obtained from SafeLink through an application process with Southwest HRA. LifeConnex offers a land line service with free connection, free first month of service, unlimited local calling, caller ID Deluxe, call waiting deluxe and sixty (60) minutes of long distance per month for $19.99 per month starting your second month. Applications are being taken for both services at all Southwest HRA Community Service Centers.