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Chattanooga Housing Authority residents funding own summer camp

By: Yolanda Putman
(Contact)

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Jesse Lawrence

After learning that the Chattanooga Housing Authority had no money to fund its annual summer camp, public housing residents raised the money themselves.

“I love my children,” said Jesse Lawrence, president of the citywide Resident Advisory Board, whose members represent all 17 of the authority’s housing developments.

Residents always have participated in raising funds for the summer camp, but this is the first year they’ve had to raise all the money themselves, said Gary Kelley, CHA’s resident services director.

Earlier this year, housing officials announced they had depleted all the money in their public housing cash reserves and that the authority faced a $4.5 million budget shortfall.

Ms. Lawrence and other members of the Resident Advisory Board raised about $2,500, she said. About $1,500 of the money came from a private donor, she said, while the rest came from fish fries and selling rib plates.

The advisory board started the camp this month for children ages 5 to 12 who live in public housing. Attendance is about 30 people a day, Mrs. Lawrence said. The camp includes arts and crafts, educational games, movies and outdoor activities such as water play to keep children out of trouble, officials said.

“It’s a safe haven that provides summer enrichment, leadership skills and mentoring for youth,” Mr. Kelley said.

The camp is manned daily by Mrs. Lawrence and two other resident council members. Other adults volunteer to work off mandatory community service hours assessed by the housing authority, Mrs. Lawrence said.

Residents must have jobs or attend school to avoid being assessed such hours.

Mrs. Lawrence said youths from all public housing sites are invited to attend the camp, but chaperones are needed to oversee them.

Olivet Baptist Church provides food for the camp, Mrs. Lawrence said. Stepping Stone Ministries, a local ministry sponsored by a husband and wife, comes every Wednesday to bring children arts and crafts, a Bible story and games, she said.

“We believe in reaching out and loving people,” said Greg Carter, who operates the ministry with his wife, Sharma.

Mr. Carter, a student at Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, and his wife also helped children plant a garden near the East Lake Courts Community Center.

Long-time public housing resident Doris Smith teaches the children math, English and manners in the mornings and allows them to watch movies and play games in the afternoons.

“Working with children is my calling,” she said. “I’ve raised seven children. I’ve got 22 grandchildren in public housing, and none of them have been to jail.”

Her goal in life, she said, is to pass on the same behavior training she gave her own children.

“We need more parents to get involved with kids as far as working with their behavior,” Ms. Smith said. “I know these are modern days, but we need to get back to old ways to help the children grow.”

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