Statements
Mission
OUR MISSION
Empower families and build strong communities by providing safe, affordable housing, person-centered support, and green initiatives.
Background
How it all began
Be a Helping Hand (BHH) was founded in 2001 originally as a nonprofit training program designed to provide education in the building trades for Nashville's underrepresented communities. We trained over 500 students in electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and carpentry. Our students were given the skills to become certified journeymen/women and were able to find opportunity and gainful employment in their communities as a result.
A new vision
In 2006, as a response to the looming deficit of high-quality affordable housing in Nashville, BHH turned its attention from the training program to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the mission to empower families and build strong communities by providing safe, affordable housing, person-centered support, and green initiatives.
As a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO), our work is mindful of the increasing disparities in housing along economic lines. We are working to ensure that the housing needs of our community members are met and opportunity is available to all. We provide individuals and families in North Nashville and the surrounding Metro areas with access to affordable housing that is sustainable, well-built, safe, comfortable, and clean. Our affordable housing program and person-centered support provides the strong foundation needed for underrepresented families to sustain a life of health, opportunity, and pride. Our program empowers Nashvillians at risk of displacement by gentrification to afford to stay and live in their community, in a home that provides the foundation to build generational wealth and opportunity for all of our neighbors.
Who we serve:
Female Heads of Household
Large Families
Survivors and Victims of Domestic Violence
Families Enrolled in the Strong Babies Project
Elderly
People with Disabilities
Veterans
Toward a bright future
We are proud of the work we've done to help strengthen our local communities through affordable housing. We have built or restored more than forty-five affordable homes in North Nashville and the surrounding Metro areas utilizing funding from federal, state, and local agencies, as well as individual donors. Our goal is to continue empowering families, building strong communities, and creating a healthy environment for underserved Nashvillians in order to be the positive change we want to see in the world.
Impact
We trained over 500 students in electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and carpentry. Our students were given the skills to become certified journeymen/women and were able to find gainful employment in their communities as a result.
We have helped our communities gain prosperity through affordable housing, education, person-centered, and green programs.
We are proud to have built or rehabilitated more than 45 homes in North Nashville and the surrounding metro areas utilizing funding from federal, state, and local agencies, as well as individual donors.
Our Progress
2021-2022
1. Planted more trees, native gardens, and rain gardens.
2. We are working on implementing a Solar Equity Program, a solar workforce training and on-the-job training installing solar systems for affordable housing.
3. We built _____new affordable homes and are in the process of building _____new homes.
4.
2022-August 2023
1. Helped form a new coalition called, The Alliance for an Affordable Nashville. We are 10 nonprofit developers, builders and social advocates working to confront Nashville's affordable housing crisis.
2. Built ____new affordable homes and are in the process of building or planning ____new homes, 4 of which will be equipped with renewable energy systems.
3. Joined forces with 2 other local nonprofit organizations, New Level Community Development Corporation and The Housing Fund, to purchase 54 acres in Antioch to develop a community of 150 single-family homes that will include affordable and market-rate housing. Funding for the land acquisition comes from a variety of sources, including Pinnacle Bank and Amazon.
Goals:
1. Provide additional low-income housing for families at 60% AMI
2. Acquire funding to increase staffing to help facilitate our programs, write grants, manage homes, and to support current staff membe
Needs
Be a Helping Hand continues an ongoing effort to acquire funding to build or acquire more affordable housing, increase staffing to help facilitate our programs and daily operations, and write grants.
CEO Statement
As Executive Director of Be a Helping Hand, I believe it is important that the organization maintain a well-balanced structure to ensure that all phases of the organization reflect our ongoing commitment to our mission and values. Having positive role models is very important in our urban communities, which is why I feel a personal responsibility to assist in addressing the concerns of my community. It gives me great pleasure to be able to help a family purchase or rent a home built by our organization that is affordable. The generosity and goodwill of people who care about the welfare of others are what make life so fulfilling. Winston Churchill once said, "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." Giving to Be a Helping Hand is really a partnership in giving with a friend you can trust. Our donors can feel confident that their donations are going to an honest organization that will work hard to put their money to work building foundations for a safe and healthy future for our communities in Nashville.
Sincerely,
Mark A. Wright
Board Chair Statement
Anita Holmes, Board Chair
Anita has worked at Vanderbilt University in the Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships since 1997. She also serves as the Faculty Advisor to the Vanderbilt Voices of Praise, a student-run organization, since 1998. She has a B.S (1983) in Sociology and Social Work from Trinity College in Hartford, CT. She belongs to Hicks Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church where she serves as the Administrative Assistant. She provides volunteer counseling and social enhancement activities for young people, particularly young women. Anita's late husband, Kelly Holmes, was the Founder of Be a Helping Hand Foundation. His love and passion for the programs is honored and shared by Anita.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Housing, Shelter - Housing Development, Construction & Management |
| Secondary Category: | Human Services - Family Services |
| Tertiary Category: | Environment - Environment NEC |
Areas Served
North Nashville, zip code 37208, and surrounding metropolitan areas.
| TN - Davidson |
