Oak Ridge Housing Authority

05/30/2026

What it actually looks like to plan a future.

The Family Self-Sufficiency program (FSS) works alongside ORHA residents who choose to set goals over a 3-to-5-year period.

Education. Employment. Debt reduction. Savings toward a home or vehicle. Whatever the resident decides matters.

As earnings grow, an escrow account grows alongside them, available when the program is completed.

It's a HUD program, run locally by our team. Voluntary, resident-led, no penalties for taking time. The work belongs to the resident. We walk alongside.

If you're an ORHA resident curious about FSS, call our office at (865) 482-1006. We'll meet you where you are.

Equal Housing Opportunity. Reasonable accommodations available. Contact Section 504 Coordinator Jim Ratliff at (865) 482-1006 ext. 137 (TN Relay 711).

🌐 orha.net

05/25/2026

On Memorial Day, we pause.

We remember the service members who gave their lives so that families across this country, including ours in Oak Ridge, could build their future on safe ground.

Their service made the everyday work of community possible.

We hold that close.

05/18/2026

What does the Oak Ridge Housing Authority actually do?

Quite a bit. Each year, ORHA helps roughly 260 households across our community find and keep stable housing through three main programs:

🏘️ 128 RAD-converted homes (Project-Based Vouchers), under long-term affordability contracts

🔑 Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), supporting families renting in the private market

🎖️ 35 HUD-VASH vouchers for veterans, one of only four Tennessee authorities to hold that designation

Add the Family Self-Sufficiency program and capital improvements at Scarboro and that's a community-development engine that's been at work since 1969.

Stable housing is built one home at a time, on purpose, year after year.

Equal Housing Opportunity. Reasonable accommodations available via Section 504 Coordinator Jim Ratliff.

🌐 orha.net

05/08/2026

Building a stronger community, together! 🏠✨

The Oak Ridge Housing Authority is looking for a Growth & Strategic Impact Intern to join our team this summer. We are evolving how we connect with our community to better support our mission, and we need a motivated individual to help build the systems that make it all possible.

This is currently a volunteer/unpaid position with the potential of converting to a paid internship based on performance and funding. It is an ideal opportunity for a student or professional-in-training to gain high-level experience in nonprofit leadership and professional fundraising.

What you will lead:

Community Projects: Help seek funding for project such as the Scarboro community sign replacement.

Digital Presence: Assist with social media and website updates to keep our community informed.

Strategic Research: Research local land opportunities (including local churches) to help us find space for new housing projects.

Creative Content: Write resident success stories and design a social media strategy using Canva.

Systems Building: Help us launch and organize Bloomerang, our new professional donor database.

The Details:

Start Date: ASAP (12-week term, potentially ongoing).

Commitment: 10–20 hours per week, hybrid.

What you’ll learn: You’ll get an inside look at how a public housing authority works alongside a private nonprofit, HomeSource east tennessee, to solve the housing crisis.

How to Apply:
We are looking for someone with strong writing skills, a knack for organization and a passion for helping people find stable, affordable homes in East Tennessee.

Apply via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4412168803/

Know the perfect candidate? Please tag them in the comments or share this post with your network to help us find our next change-maker!

Posted 8:10:09 PM. Growth & Strategic Impact Intern (Summer 2026) Location: Knoxville, TN and Oak Ridge, TN…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.

05/04/2026

✏️ Back to School Fair 2026! 🎒

Calling all Oak Ridge families! Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 18, 2026. Amazing local partners are making sure our students have everything they need to succeed this year!

Here is what you can expect:

🏥 FREE BACK TO SCHOOL & SPORTS PHYSICALS

Time: 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Who: Ages 3–18

What: Physicals, plus vision and hearing screenings provided by The Free Medical Clinic

Location: Oak Ridge Schools Preschool (157 Carver Avenue)

Note: Please bring vaccine records if applicable!

🎁 FREE BACK TO SCHOOL RESOURCE FAIR

Time: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Location: Scarboro Community Center (148 Carver Avenue)

Supplies: Free backpacks and school supplies provided by UCOR!

Food: Free hot dogs and chips from Mary Lou’s Food Truck, courtesy of FMC.

Huge thanks to FMC, UCOR, NAACP Oak Ridge, Elks Atomic Lodge 1301, Roberta Bohanon Temple 1381, City of Oak Ridge Government and Oak Ridge Schools for making this event possible.
Help us spread the word: tag a friend or neighbor who needs to see this! 👇

05/01/2026

Big news for the Scarboro community in Oak Ridge! 🏠✨

For decades, the Scarboro neighborhood has shared its ridge line with nuclear facilities dating back to the Manhattan Project. Today, the Oak Ridge Housing Authority and Oak Ridge Community Development Corporation are proud to share a major update on a project that is long overdue: the Atomic Elks Lodge Community Enrichment Center.

This is the first large infusion of economic development capital into this historic community. We are taking the legacy of the Atomic Elks Lodge, once a vital hub during segregation, and transforming it into a brand-new, 5,000-square-foot facility on Wilberforce Road.

Watch the video below to see Executive Director Maria Catron’s ETEC presentation highlights, featuring:

Small Business Incubator: A launchpad for local entrepreneurs.

Health & Wellness Clinic: Partnering with the Free Medical Clinic.

Computer Lab: Training for the next generation.

Scarboro 85 Display: Honoring the students who integrated our schools.

We are so close! While we’ve secured a $1.9M DOE grant, we are currently working to close a $600,000–$700,000 funding gap to move to our second bid process and finish the building by 2027.

Do you know of a funding opportunity? Is your organization looking to partner? Reach out to ORHA today at [email protected].

Let’s build this together! 🤝

04/27/2026

We believe every Oak Ridge family, regardless of income, deserves the dignity and security of a safe place to call home.

That belief is 57 years old. It started with 50 homes in 1976.

Today, ORHA is a $1.6 million annual economic engine supporting 260 families every month. We aren't just part of Oak Ridge's history; we are building its future as we look toward a 10-year vision of 1,700 modern homes.

Which neighborhood have you seen transform the most since you've lived here? Tell us below! 👇

04/20/2026

Oak Ridge is thriving, and we’re proud to be the spark. 🔌🏗️

Did you know ORHA is one of our city’s most consistent economic engines? We do more than provide housing; we fuel the local businesses we all love.

Every year, ORHA pumps $1.6 Million directly into the pockets of local landlords, contractors and vendors. That’s money that stays right here in Oak Ridge supporting our shops, our services and our neighbors.

We aren’t just building apartments; we are engaged community leaders investing in the local economy.

Are you a local landlord or business owner? We’re looking for new partners to help us keep Oak Ridge growing.

📞 Call us at 865-482-1006 to join the engine.

04/14/2026

🏠 Empower Families to Build Futures: Join ORHA as our FSS Coordinator! 🏠

Are you a strategic leader with a heart for service? The Oak Ridge Housing Authority is hiring a Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Coordinator to lead our mission of helping neighbors achieve economic independence.

This isn’t just a case management role: it’s a dynamic administrative position where you’ll serve as an architect of change for our community. We regard our participants as valued customers and consumers, providing them with the professional respect they deserve as they work toward their goals.

What You’ll Do:
✅ Mentor & Advocate: Recruit and counsel participants as they navigate their journey to self-sufficiency.
✅ Manage Wealth: Oversee participant escrow accounts that reward hard work and financial growth.
✅ Strategic Growth: Market the program to private industry and pursue grants to expand our impact.
✅ Lead Partnerships: Facilitate the Program Coordinating Committee and build relationships with local business leaders.

What We’re Ideally Looking For:
A Bachelor’s degree (Social Sciences, Business, or Marketing preferred).
3+ years of experience in a related field (Nonprofit, Public Housing or Case Management).
Strong skills in grant writing, desktop publishing, and public speaking.
A valid Driver’s License and personal auto insurance.

📍 Location: Oak Ridge/Hybrid
⏰ Status: 40 hours per week (Hourly/Non-Exempt)

Ready to turn aspirations into reality for Oak Ridge families?

🔗 Apply Today: https://orha.net/job-openings
📖 Learn More: https://orha.net/housing-programs/family-self-sufficiency/fss

Know the perfect candidate?

Tag them below! 👇

04/13/2026

From 1942-43, Oak Ridge was built in secret to change the world. Today, we are unveiling a vision for the future that everyone can be part of. 🏗️

We have grown from our first 50 homes in 1976 to a new horizon: a master plan to deliver 1,700 high-quality, modern homes for the next generation of Oak Ridgers. This isn't just about construction; it is about ensuring our children and seniors have a place where they truly belong. From eco-friendly designs to modernizing our historic neighborhoods, we are building for the long haul.

What is one thing every dream neighborhood needs? A park? A community garden? Great porches? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!