A partnership between Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area and Parkridge Medical Center is transforming the Orchard Knob community.
With support from Parkridge, as many as 30 homes in the Orchard Knob Neighborhood Association will be renovated and repaired.
The home of Zandra Strickland, who is deaf, was the first to receive repairs. The floors in her bathroom had deteriorated over time.
Habitat workers replaced the floors and Strickland’s toilet with one that’s taller and ADA compliant in January. Habitat had previously reroofed the home and added gutters.
Habitat President and CEO David Butler says the work would not have been possible without Parkridge.
“Tom Ozburn (Parkridge president and CEO) has a vision for helping his neighbors and is putting the resources of the hospital to work to successfully launch this effort,” Butler says. “We appreciate our relationship with Parkridge and are excited to work with well-deserving homeowners like Zandra Strickland.”
Ozburn says the Orchard Knob collaborative is about Parkridge being a good steward of the community.
“Through this initiative, we are marrying our mission as both a health care provider and a good neighbor. The partnership with Habitat allows us to reach beyond the scope of traditional health care and address factors, such as housing conditions, that can affect one’s health.
Sources: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area; Parkridge Health System