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KCDC honored in D.C. for veterans housing development in Knoxville
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Liberty Place in West Knoxville has earned a national honor for helping veterans. The 32-unit housing site was recognized by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.
Knoxville's Community Development Corporation (KCDC) received the Outstanding Partnership Award during the group's annual conference in Washington, D.C. The award honors groups that demonstrate creativity and collaboration. Liberty Place, which opened in November, provides permanent housing for homeless veterans. It features solar panels, ADA units, and on-site VA support. More than 25 local groups helped furnish and support the residents. This is also KCDC's first housing site dedicated specifically to veterans.
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'Liberty Place would not have been possible without the partnerships that were built at all levels and phases of development, ranging from local, state and federal agencies to nonprofits and community members,' KCDC Executive Director and CEO Ben Bentley said. 'Liberty Place is a success because of these collaborations and is an example of how developments can and should work within our community to support homeless veterans.'
The project was made possible with help from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Knoxville Homeless Management Information System, local Volunteers of America, and The McNabb Center. Funding for the $15 million project included $2 million in federal funds, $500,000 from affordable housing funds from the City of Knoxville, $7.1 million in tax credits from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA), and $1 million from the HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program (HOME-ARP). Additionally, the land for the site was donated by Knox County.
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KCDC worked with local partners to stock the residents' kitchens before a significant snowstorm that was predicted shortly before the opening, and these partners continue to provide monthly food donations to the residents.
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