EVERY COMMUNITY member deserves a safe and affordable place to live and raise a family. Your house becomes a home at the Manchester Housing Authority (MHA). It is an equal housing opportunity provider of income-based housing for families and individuals in Manchester, without discrimination against race, color, religion, sex, and other classes.
Their family units consist of 1-4 bedroom duplexes and 1-2 bedroom single- story studio apartment complexes for the elderly and disabled individuals 55 and older. Their property has a beautiful homegrown community vegetable garden, maintained by one of the MHA residents with help from their trustees, throughout the summer and distributed to any MHA residents that would like fresh vegetables.
The housing authority ensures safety and success with a school-age program, All God’s Children, designed and spearheaded by teachers and volunteers from the Westwood School System. The program offers after-school tutoring and snacks during the school year and feeding programs during the summer.
Executive Director Nancy Huddleston has been working with the organization for 28 years and is moving with the same momentum as when she started.
The authority added a tax-credit property, Rivendell, to their housing program 18 years ago with 48 tax-credit apartments of 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms. With hard work, a lot of support, and motivation to achieve a common goal, they ended up with 96 units four years later.
With the growing need for affordable housing, Huddleston had the momentum to continue purchasing properties to further its mission.
Huddleston said, “We had to get aggressive because everybody deserves an affordable place to live, even with their income levels.”
In 2020, Huddleston partnered with a friend and business acquaintance to complete their first grant, which helped them build four eight-unit affordable housing duplexes for elderly and disabled people. The authority has loving staff members who show compassion and believe in providing families with a safe and affordable place to call “home” while helping them become self-sufficient.
Their low-income housing serves as a stepping stone for families to progress and transition from poor living situations to an affordable place to call “home” until they can get back on their feet. Huddleston said watching families flourish is the most rewarding part of working with the housing authority and keeps the organization going.
“We’ve had so many tenants that have built or purchased a home. We like to see self-sufficiency.” The housing authority board members meet monthly to approve the housing authority business. They help to provide numerous opportunities for families to grow and pursue their dreams. Many housing authority residents go on to get their degrees to become social workers, teachers, and vital community members who pay it forward and help others navigate poor living situations.
“They have to have a good place to live and raise their children. A child has to be proud of where they live and feel safe and secure.”
Citizens who need affordable or low-income housing are welcome to visit the Manchester Housing Authority office or their website at https://manchestertnhousing.org to fill out an application. GN
