MDHA relaunches service center, more resources for residents

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - The Metro Development and Housing Agency relaunched their service center under a new name. It will now be called “Valuing, Opportunities, Inclusion and Connectivity for Everyone (VOICE).”

Sterling Wright grew up just yards away from their center.

“All my life. I grew up in JC Napier.” He says he made it out, ”I just like coming around my community because to me, I was chosen to help my community.“

Wright thinks MDHA should have more health programs, especially with the recent closing of the Dollar General that was right next door to the center.

MDHA Chief of Staff Jamie Berry said the center will house their health programs.

“We’re always looking at healthy initiatives to bring in healthy opportunities to our residents,” said Berry.

The center will also house all of the organizations resident services like their GED and Family Self-Sufficiency programs. Their services are available for anyone who needs them.

“We also have programs that our community partners offer that we do not,” said Berry.

What’s new with this relaunch? MDHA now has partners that will be housed in this building too.

“We want to be able to offer that one-stop shop. We want it to be where if residents are coming in for one service, guess what? They realize there’s like ten more services that they can access just in this one building,” said Berry.

Wright applauds their efforts but feels MDHA would find more success with the services they provide if they connected more with community.

“How are you going to tell me how to live when you never knew what it’s like coming here? I don’t have all the answers, but I know one thing can help a lot and that’s love just show love,” said Wright.

The center is located at 78 Lafayette Street.

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