Ep. 304 - Meet Teara Harris, a visionary in affordable housing and empowerment. As the founder of Communities of Tomorrow and a dedicated HUD Contract Specialist, Harris is transforming lives by bridging the gap for middle-class families through innovative housing solutions and homebuyer assistance programs across several states. Discover how her passion for social change is creating a brighter future for many.
Teara Harris is fueled by an impassioned desire to bridge the housing gap for middle-class families. She has diligently worked towards establishing affordable housing resources in several states, including Georgia and North Carolina.
With a keen focus on homebuyer assistance programs and senior living, Teara is determined to assist those who find themselves caught in the financial gap, unable to qualify for luxury homes or government subsidies.
Apart from spearheading Communities of Tomorrow, she also serves as a Contract Specialist at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where her role encompasses a gamut of responsibilities from mentoring acquisition personnel to negotiating contract terms. Join us as we delve into the journey and the impactful work of this committed trailblazer in the housing sector.
Key Takeaways:
- How to encourage people to be self-sufficient to build a thriving community.
- Why you shouldn’t give up on your talent and vision even when no one believes in you.
- How to capitalize on understanding resources like networking to serve your community better.
"Don’t ever give up on your dreams; if you know that this is your God-given talent, then do it.”- Teara Harris
In this episode, you will learn:
How Teara’s passion for a thriving community led her to start Communities of Tomorrow [01:47]
Why she focuses on giving people resources to help them find a place to live and form a community [05:47]
The rewards and challenges of giving people resources to help them be self-sufficient [09:55]
Understanding the importance of going after your vision if you want to build a community [18:08]
CAREER
Teara Harris is the founder of Communities of Tomorrow, a local non-profit organization with the mission to provide community outreach and workforce development.
She is also involved throughout Troup and Meriwether County, supporting entrepreneurship and helping women to expand or start their own businesses. She serves on the SHRM Workforce Development Board and the Sweetland Amphitheatre Advisory Board.
Communities of Tomorrow began as a passion project. Its Founder and CEO, Teara
Harris, wanted to help middle-class families. They provide opportunities for clients
through affordable housing resources. They have plans to develop affordable housing in
Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee and Mississippi.
Teara says, "We serve families that earn between 60 and 120 percent of median household income.
We strive to make an impact in communities that don’t make enough to qualify for
luxury homes, and their income level does not qualify for government-subsidized
programs. Our focus is on homebuyer assistance-programs and senior living."
Apart from spearheading Communities of Tomorrow, she also serves as a UDSA packager for 502 Direct Loan program and affordable housing development for The Rail District where her role encompasses a gamut of responsibilities from mentoring acquisition personnel to negotiating contract terms.