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Smithville Applies for Transitional Housing Grant
Josh Miller

 


Without actually giving approval for a transitional housing program for women in recovery from substance abuse, the City of Smithville is moving forward with possible funding for the project, voting to authorize the Upper Cumberland Development District to apply for a grant.

During a special called meeting on April 21, aldermen adopted a resolution authorizing the filing of an application for a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant for Recovery Housing through the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development with no local grant match or costs to the city. The filing deadline is April 29, and the city wants to see if the grant is available before making any decisions on the facility.

Executive Director of the Upper Cumberland Development District and the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency Mark Farley informed the city during their March meeting of the possible grant, telling aldermen that Smithville had a very good chance of receiving the grant due to local statistics showing the area has the highest percentage of fatal and non-fatal overdoses in the state.

During a public hearing on April 4, Farley said that 8-12 single females, or women with children would, be served at this transitional home. The location for the site has yet to be decided, but several possible locations have been looked at, all within a half mile of city hall. If approved Smithville and the UCDD/UCHRA, would enter into a contract as to how the program would be operated.

“If you (aldermen) decide to pass this resolution to apply for this grant, it is only to let them (UCDD) apply for transitional housing. The only thing we’re voting on tonight is to allow them (UCDD) to apply. This does not mean (transitional housing) is coming. If we get the grant, we still have to structure this the way it needs to be structured and there would be a lot of meetings with that,” said Mayor Josh Miller.

In other business the aldermen voted to hire Linda Robinson to fill a vacant office clerk position at city hall. She will begin work Monday, April 25.