May. 30, 2025
Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) has earned a national award for Liberty Place, a 32-unit permanent supportive housing development for veterans.
The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) presented KCDC with the Outstanding Partnership Award at NCHV’s 35th anniversary annual conference, which was held May 27-30 in Washington, D.C. The award honors an organization or individual whose work to build effective partnerships exemplifies creativity and collaboration.
The residential community, located at 3627 Division St., in West Knoxville, opened last November and is KCDC’s first housing site specifically for veterans. The development provides one-bedroom furnished units to veterans who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless.
“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.”
Partnerships included the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Knoxville Homeless Management Information System (KNOXHMIS), local Volunteers of America and The McNabb Center.
KCDC also partnered with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to include solar panels and higher efficiency equipment, including heat pump water heaters, which are a first for the organization’s housing developments.
Funding sources for the $15 million project included $2 million in federal funds; $500,000 in affordable housing funds from the City of Knoxville; $7.1 million in tax credits from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA); $1 million from the HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program (HOME-ARP); and land donated by Knox County.
Additional partners included more than 25 civic groups, companies and individuals that provided soft goods such as bedding, towels and toiletries for all 32 units, along with a television for each resident.
Many residents did not have cars, and some even walked to their lease signing and move-in day. With a large snowstorm predicted shortly after Liberty Place opened, KCDC reached out to additional partners in the community and secured two food drops to stock the kitchens of residents through the storm. In addition, the partner groups continue to bring monthly donations of food to the residents.
Local architecture firm BarberMcMurry was retained to design the project under lead architect Ryan Dobbs, a veteran of the U.S. Army. Construction firm Jenkins and Stiles joined the effort under project manager Josh Sullins, a U.S. Marine Corps and combat veteran.
The units, which include 16 fully accessible ADA units, provide utilities and conveniences such as walk-in showers and on-site maintenance. Liberty Place residents are participants in the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) voucher program, a joint effort between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the VA to move veterans out of homelessness and into permanent housing.
The VA also will have offices onsite to offer case management services to residents that include coordination of medical services and community resources.
About Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation
Since 1936, KCDC has been dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Knoxville and Knox County. KCDC’s mission is to improve and transform neighborhoods and communities by providing quality affordable housing, advancing development initiatives and fostering self-sufficiency. For more information, call 865-403-1100 or visit kcdc.org.
