Recovery Act Renovation Preserves Much Needed Affordable Homes for Lavonia, Georgia Residents

Lavonia Housing Authority, City of Lavonia and HUD participate in Bill Clark affordable homes renovation official opening ceremonies.

With a crowd of over seventy five people on a beautiful October 18, Fall day Lavonia residents, local officials and HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Ed Jennings, Jr. gathered to recognize the Recovery Act funded renovation of the Bill Clark homes. These twelve units of affordable housing were aging and faced possible demolition due to fiscal restraints.

However, the Recovery Act provided the Lavonia Housing Authority and the City of Lavonia with an opportunity to renovate the apartments and continue to provide comfortable, safe and affordable housing for an anticipated growing population while also producing twenty jobs. The Recovery Act award of $372,361 along with 2009 CFP funding provided for the comprehensive redesign and modernization which included making them energy efficient, converting two 3 bedroom duplexes to two 2-bedroom fully handicap duplexes, redesigning the exteriors and adding CBU mailboxes which are ADA compliant and converting the development from gas to total electric and utilizing Energy Star appliances.

"This model is one we're going to be talking about around the country...how a small housing authority can come together, have a vision that can bear fruit for generations to come," said Ed Jennings, Jr.

Local Bill Clark homes and Lavonia residents watch the day's ceremony from the shade of one of the unit's newly constructed porches.

Front left to right: Ed Jennings, Jr, HUD Southeast Regional Administrator recognizing the City of Lavonia and Housing Authority as Rick Whitworth, Executive Director, Lavonia Housing Authority looks on.

Rick Whitworth, Executive Director, Lavonia Housing Authority said, "As time went on, our allotment came... we still didn't have enough money to do this, but we decided that with (the federal stimulus money) and with one year of our annual (HUD) allotment, we could complete this project."

The housing development is named after Bill Clark and his granddaughter, Barbara Clark related to those in attendance that "All of our ancestors, not just the Clarks, knew a better day would come whether it was the duties of everyday living, education, employment, housing or whatever. We know because we used to hear stories about how a better day would come."

Also, honored at the event was Sue Cawthon, the former director of the Lavonia Housing Authority, who served as director for 25 years. A new plaque near the front entrance of Bill Clark Homes was unveiled, too.

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