NASHVILLIAN JACQUELINE SIMS RECEIVES NATIONAL NEIGHBORWORKS AWARD
FOR RELEASE ON MARCH 31
Affordable Housing Resources board member Jacqueline Sims honored for her achievements in housing advocacy in Nashville
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 31, 2022)— Yesterday evening, Jacqueline Sims was awarded the National Dorothy Richardson Award for Resident Leadership. This is awarded by, congressionally chartered, NeighborWorks America for her accomplishments and advocacy efforts in affordable housing in Nashville. Sims was nominated by Affordable Housing Resources (AHR) for her work in community organizing and advocating for Nashville residents in eviction court.
“Housing became the thing that put fire in my belly,” said Sims. “I’m honored to have received this distinctive award from NeighborWorks. Dorothy Richardson was such a positive force in housing advocacy, and I’m overjoyed to be associated with her and her passion.”
The Dorothy Richardson Award for Resident Leadership was created to recognize and support resident and community leaders across the NeighborWorks network for their essential role in strengthening communities. Selection is based on a nominee’s proven ability to share a vision, inspire neighbors, and bring people together to create positive change.
As one of many nominees from around the country, Sims is a force for change in the Nashville community. One of many examples of her passion for housing advocacy is her support efforts after the March 3, 2020 tornado left East and North Nashville devastated. She identified homeowners who experienced various levels of tornado-related damage to their property. From there, she spent months helping residents find and apply for funding assistance for which they were eligible. She also took on the cumbersome process of assisting these neighbors negotiate and pay for the appropriate repairs so that they could safely inhabit their homes, successfully keeping neighbors from selling to developers that would push the community out.
“AHR is proud to work with Jacqueline Sims,” said Eddie Latimer, CEO of Affordable Housing Resources. “Jackie is driven to serve her community by advocating for Nashville neighbors daily in eviction court to keep as many Nashvillians housed as possible. AHR has been honored to partner with her to bring resources, such as education and access to Emergency Assistance Programs to prevent evictions and housing loss to those she advocates for.”
Sims serves on the board of AHR and is the director of People’s Alliance for Transit Housing and Employment (PATHE), a coalition dedicated to improving housing, transit and employment for the people of Nashville. She is dedicated to educating the community of Nashville of the severity of the housing crisis through town halls, advocating for renters in eviction court and helping them apply for available rental assistance and ultimately creating lasting change so that everyone in Nashville has a place to call home. Jackie has also played an active role in working with the new owners of the Riverchase apartments to find affordable housing for those who are being displaced.
ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESOURCES
AHR is a 30-year-old housing nonprofit focused on creating affordable homeownership and stronger neighborhoods through public and private partnerships. AHR offers financial resources, tools and training opportunities such as homebuyer education courses, financial and credit counseling and a mortgage lending product with down payment assistance for those who may not meet traditional guidelines. AHR also secures the construction of new, affordable homes across Nashville. AHR is a chartered member of NeighborWorks®, a pioneer member of Home Matters and a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) as designated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Learn more at ahrhousing.org or (615) 251-0025
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Media Contact:
Katie Miller, 864-979-6699
