RUTLEDGE – Housing markets are as diverse as the communities they serve. From regulatory constraints to local demographics, understanding housing needs is paramount, especially for rural organizations serving multiple communities. Clinch-Powell RC&D (Clinch-Powell) has taken significant steps to address this challenge.

A recent housing needs assessment, facilitated by the Housing Assistance Council (HAC), funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Rural Capacity Building (RCB) program, and led by contractor Nicole Opfer, Housing Specialist, Cheneé Young, Housing Specialist, Shreya Shrestha, and Senior Research Associate, Keith Wiley, has provided Clinch-Powell with crucial insights.

Clinch-Powell delved into the housing landscape of their service area in East Tennessee, surveying residents to learn more about the quality of housing in the area. The study was led by Executive Director Trenna McCauslin, Executive Operations Assistant Stephani McCarty, Senior Community Resource Navigator Michelle Lane, and AmeriCorps Member Michael De Los Santos.

Information collected through data analysis and community engagement revealed local housing needs throughout the area. The findings provided a solid foundation for Clinch-Powell to begin developing a targeted Housing Action Plan tailored to the community’s unique challenges and opportunities.

Clinch-Powell convened an in-person planning session Thursday, June 4 to transform these insights into action. The organization set the following priorities: increase and improve housing stock, expand nonprofit financing options, improve housing affordability, and expand housing education and financial literacy.

“This assessment is just the beginning,” said Trenna McCauslin, executive director at Clinch-Powell. “Understanding our community’s needs is the first step towards meaningful action.”

Founded in 1989, Clinch-Powell is a HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agency and a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO). The organization’s mission is to build strong, sustainable communities by investing in people, housing, and conservation of natural resources through collaborative partnerships, direct investments, financial education and counseling, and by providing housing solutions, primarily in East Tennessee.

“We are not just building and repairing houses; we are building communities,” said Clinch-Powell CEO Lindy Turner.

As Clinch-Powell advances its mission, collaboration remains a cornerstone of its strategy. Working alongside local governments, development organizations, and nonprofit partners, Clinch-Powell is committed to creating inclusive and sustainable housing solutions throughout East Tennessee. Wednesday, October 14, Clinch-Powell met with elected officials and candidates across the counties involved in this project to discuss the data findings, and begin to strategize how the data will be used to impact those communities going forward. Clinch-Powell will utilize the full report to inform its next five-year plan. The full report can be reviewed by clicking here.

“There is no denying that Tennessee is facing a housing crisis, and the data presented by Clinch-Powell RC&D underscores the urgency of this challenge,” said Cody Brown, Chairman of Clinch-Powell Board of Directors. “However, Clinch-Powell RC&D is taking a proactive approach to help Tennesseans find affordable housing opportunities and remain in the communities they call home.”