CULLMAN, Ala. – Wednesday was an exciting day at Cullman’s Hilltop Community Center. Local, state and national officials gathered to celebrate the Cullman Housing Authority’s (CHA) 75th anniversary.
CHA Executive Director Marquisha Griffin was excited to welcome everyone to the community center for the occasion.
“This is a milestone for not just CHA, but the entire community of Cullman, a moment to reflect on the journey that we’ve made and the bright future that lies ahead,” Griffin said.
Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs stepped up to the podium next to present a proclamation commemorating the CHA’s 75th anniversary to Griffin, thanking her for all the work she’s put in since accepting the position
“We really appreciate (Griffin) being here. We’ve formed a friendship and we’re going to continue to be friends and assist in any way that we can,” Jacobs said. “Cullman is different in a lot of ways and that’s because we work together.”
The Proclamation reads in part,
Whereas Cullman Housing was established to provide safe and decent rental housing for low-income families, the elderly and persons with disabilities in Cullman. This vital service is provided by the Cullman Housing Authority. The Housing Authority was established in 1949 with the first tenant moving in in 1952. The last development was completed in 1967. For 75 years, the Housing Authority has fulfilled its mission to provide safe and decent housing for Cullman County residents. They are equipped and ready to continue providing these services for many years to come. And whereas, the City of Cullman is pleased to commemorate the Cullman Housing Authority’s 75th anniversary with this certificate of recognition.
After a video presentation that highlighted more of the CHA’s impact within the community, Alabama Field Office Director Kenneth Free introduced the event’s keynote speaker, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development Regional Administrator Jennifer Riley Collins. Collins began her remarks by recognizing Griffin for all she has done and is doing in the community.
“This is amazing, and it speaks to how we work together. Public Housing Authority Executive Directors from across the state to be in this room and partner with (Griffin) and that speaks to who she is,” Collins said. “That speaks to the way she is operating in this housing community so please know that you have tapped the right person for the right time for this job. So, I’ll say to you, Ms. Griffin, when it gets hard, you have the right heart. Keep going, because you’re doing the right thing of making sure that the residents in the housing community are taken care of.”
Collins shared stories from her own life and upbringing to emphasize how important the housing issue is to her.
“It is the ripple effect of safe and secure housing that you see standing before you. Because I had a safe house, I was able to thrive academically, I had good health, I had increased economic ability, and I had strengthened community bonds,” Collins said. “So, I encourage you all to work together to make sure that another little girl who may be growing up in a housing authority near you, has the same opportunities that were afforded me. What I had was a safe place to call home, a safe place to go home and a community that surrounded me and made sure I stayed on the right track.”
Collins has been excited to see the housing community in Cullman continue to grow and develop and hopes to see that progress spread throughout the rest of the country as well.
“As this housing community progresses, so shall Cullman, so shall Huntsville, so shall Birmingham, so shall the state of Alabama and so shall the United States of America,” Collins said. “It does not matter who is in the White House, everybody needs a safe place to call home.”
In closing, Griffin shared some final remarks with the crowd, highlighting what CHA has accomplished in the past 75 years and setting new goals for the next 75.
“Together I hope we will tackle the challenges of affordable housing. I pledge to work towards solutions that address housing insecurity, build a stronger community and ensure that every family in Cullman has a fair shot at success. We will create not just houses, but homes. Homes that are places of safety, opportunity and hope. As we look ahead to the next 75 years, I challenge each of us to think beyond bricks and mortars,” Griffin said. “Let’s think about the lives that will be transformed, the families that will flourish and the children who will grow up in communities of opportunity. Together we have the power to make the next 75 years even more impactful than the last. The journey of the Cullman Housing Authority will be one of collaboration, perseverance and hope. I look forward to working with all of you as we continue to make Cullman a place where everyone can thrive.”
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