07/12/2026
The Architecture Collaborative is proud to have good working relationships with many public housing entities. Many of them are able to create new housing opportunities via grant opportunities through private developments, that target at-risk groups like: the elderly on fixed incomes, young single-parent families, and group homes. We had an opportunity to work with the Greater Kingsport Alliance for Development on Cunningham Terrace, built to serve the elderly. Here is one resident's story.
Maria goes by Katie; it’s what she’s been called her whole life, since she was young.
In January 2023, Katie lost her mother, her best friend, after being her caretaker for a long time. Without her mother’s income, Katie was not able to afford where they had been living. When her application for disability wasn’t approved, she was able to draw on her husband’s social security while working part-time, but it wasn’t enough and she had to leave her home. After a brief stay with friends, Katie moved into the Salvation Army in 2024. The Salvation Army allowed her to stay for as long as they could, but like many in similar situations, her time there eventually came to an end.
After reconnecting with an old friend of 23 years at a memorial service, Katie went to stay with her and her family. Her friend was able to help her find the application for Cunningham Terrace Apartments and within a month, Katie had a new home.
Katie carries a fierce spirit of independence. Even after a recent stroke that affected her strength and her voice, she hasn’t lost that determination. As she puts it, if someone tells her she can’t do something, by golly, she’s going to find a way to do it anyway. The walk-in shower has been a blessing for her knees, especially after returning home from the hospital. But what stayed with her even more was the concern her neighbors showed during that time. It made her feel seen, supported, and no longer alone.
Cunningham Terrace, in the short time it has been home to its residents, has developed a strong sense of comradery and community. Katie, used to cooking for a big family of siblings and friends, regularly makes dinner for her neighbors. On June 14th, the neighborhood hosted a potluck dinner, and Katie says they were laughing, “horse-laughing,” Katie says, late into the evening.
Katie’s message to those that made Cunningham Terrace possible is simple: “Thank you.”
She had expected a long wait. Months on a list, paperwork, uncertainty about where she could use her voucher and whether she’d find the right place. So, when the call came just weeks later, offering her a brand-new apartment, she was overwhelmed with joy.
Why do we do Affordable Housing? The people.
