A Message From THA
THA's Annual Meeting and 65th Anniversary Celebration - Postponed
The THA Board of Directors announced earlier this week, the June 7 - 9, 2020 event will be postponed until October 18 - 20, 2020. For more information and future participation deadline dates, please visit the Annual Meeting Page, via the THA Website.

As a note, if you had already made hotel reservations with Dollywood's DreamMore Resort & Spa in Pigeon Forge, for the June event, please call them and move your dates to the October time frame! (800) 365-5996.

We are excited to get this re-scheduled!
HUD Issues Statement about
Fair Housing and COVID-19
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released a statement on the enforcement of the Fair Housing Act during the COVID-19 outbreak.

In the statement, HUD emphasizes the importance of federal fair housing laws and that the Department will be operating to enforce those laws to ensure housing and services are available for tenants free from discrimination. The statement also encourages property owners to not evict tenants or residents during this unprecedented time.

“The Fair Housing Act embodies the spirit of this great nation where everyone is entitled to equal opportunity and respect,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “Right now, in the spirit of fair housing, we need to be the best neighbors we can be for one another.”

The statement also provides information for filing complaints to HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. Click here view the full statement. 

TN STATEWIDE
In the midst of other state guidance surrounding COVID-19 mitigation, the Tennessee Supreme Court ordered judges to refrain from processing any evictions, through April 30. 
2020 TN State Fact Sheet
The annual state fact sheets (published by MHI) have been updated with the most recent data available from the U.S. Census Bureau. The fact sheet presents the latest information on manufactured housing in each Congressional District, the average sales price of a new manufactured home in the state, and the number of manufacturing plants. On the reverse side, the document includes national manufactured housing data.

TN Executive Orders and News Briefings


Here is a link to TN Governor Lee’s web page for our state specific Executive Orders, relating to COVID-19.


conducted by Governor Lee.
Typically , those news conferences begin at
3:00 pm CST, daily.


HERE is a link to view the TN Department of Health's
statistical pandemic data/reporting.
TN Press Conferences - Daily Recap
Friday (04/17/2020) - Press Conference - There will be no formal press conference today.
  • Monday - Thursday Press Conferences typically air at 3:00 pm CST (HERE).
  • Friday Press Conferences are aired from satellite locations, at varying times.

Thursday (04/16/2020) Press Conference - Governor Lee outlined the following updates:
  • Tennessee will receive nearly $2.3 billion through the Coronavirus Relief Fund created by the CARES Act beginning Friday. This funding is in addition to the funding that will be coming to Nashville and Memphis individually.  The federal government provided broad guidelines on how to spend the funds, but the state will continue working with the federal government as new information is provided.

  • Governor Lee also created a task force to ensure proper fiscal management of the stimulus funds. Members of the task force include Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, Sen. Bo Watson, Sen. Raumesh Akbari, Rep. Pat Marsh, Rep. Harold Love Jr., Comptroller Justin Wilson, new Finance and Administration Commissioner Butch Ely and former Commissioner Stuart McWhorter.  He also encouraged businesses to go to tn.gov to make comments/suggestions on what the state can do to help them. 

  • Additionally, Governor Lee provided an update on the establishment of the state’s Economic Recovery Group. The group will led by Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell and will work in coordination with legislative leaders, local mayors, healthcare professionals, and representatives of impacted industries.  The official announcement and more information about the members named to the group can be found here. 


Wednesday (04/15/2020) Press Conference - Governor Lee outlined the following updates:
  • Governor Lee is recommending schools remain closed for the rest of the school year. He has asked Commissioner of Education Penny Schwinn to convene a child well being task force, to focus on providing support through state and local leaders to ensure all students are safe during the remainder of the school year and throughout the summer. The task force will be assembled in the coming weeks and will support locally led innovations and partnerships to check on children.
 
  • Governor Lee also announced that he has directed the Unified Command to expand testing across the state. Testing will be available to every Tennessean who feels they need to be tested, even when the traditional COVID-19 symptoms are not present. The expanded testing effort launches this weekend, April 18-19, 2020. More information about the increased testing efforts can be found here. 


Tuesday (04/14/2020) Press Conference - Governor Lee
  • Tuesday's press conference was held in SE Tennessee and focused on the assessment and recovery efforts after a major tornado hit part of Tennessee.


Monday (04/13/2020) Press Conference - Governor Lee - A nnouncements .
  • Executive Order 27 was signed, which extends the requirement for Tennesseans to stay home until April 10th, unless they are carrying out essential activities. All schools are closed through April 24th. The Governor will make a recommendation on Wednesday, whether schools should remain closed after April 24th.

  • In addition, Governor Lee announced that Tennessee will slowly begin to reopen in May with a “phased reboot.” He has formalized an economic recovery group to be led by Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell. The group will work in coordination with legislative leaders, local mayors, healthcare professionals, and representatives of impacted industries. The Unified Command group will continue their focused effort on disease management, improving hospital and testing capacity, and increasing the state’s PPE supply chain. The Unified Command will also be making recommendations to the Governor about exactly when and how to begin the phased reopening of Tennessee’s economy. 
Housing Construction and auxiliary services pertaining to construction/real estate are considered
'Essential Services'. (This includes MH.)
Resources For Businesses Amid COVID-19
THA - License Class Renewal - URGENT - Notification of Cancellation
In order to meet federal and state mandates for social distancing relative to COVID-19,
THA has cancelled all ‘in-person’ classes for an undetermined amount of time.
05 Hour Continuing Education Offered Online - For A Limited Time ONLY
To meet the continuing education requirements of our licensed industry members and affiliates, THA has developed a modified online continuing education class for manufactured home retailers and installers, for the 2020 renewal of licensing or certification. 

Please note, this online training access will only be offered for a limited time.  Once federal and state travel restrictions have been lifted and approval for gatherings has been waived, the State of Tennessee will resume the requirement for ‘in-person’ class attendance. Take this opportunity now, to complete your 2020 education online! .... If you have NOT already registered for a 2020 Class CLICK HERE for a registration form and instructions.

15 Hour Initial Licensing Class
Notification of April Cancellation
THA will reschedule this initial licensing class as soon as the state allows. We will hold your reservation spot for the first re-scheduled class, or you may request a refund of your registration fee, and schedule yourself again, on a later date.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
This is a very difficult time for businesses, individuals, and for our legislative and regulatory officials. THA has been diligently working to relieve some of the stress and uncertainty, which currently surrounds the licensing process for the manufactured housing industry.
"DO YOUR PART, STAY APART"




TN Governor and First Lady - PSA video   HERE .


Tennessee Titans Coach Mike Vrabel - PSA video HERE .

THA OFFICES

The Tennessee Housing Association (THA) currently remains open during this COVID-19 pandemic, as we work to serve our members.

Construction (all housing) and related services are considered "Essential Services".

However, we strongly request you refrain from visiting our offices at this time. If you need assistance, please call 615/256-4733 or e-mail Rhonda at Office@tnmha.org .


Remember Our Tornado Victims...
We are Still Recovering!
NOTE : Some of the MH industry's financial partners have approved the use of this 'gifted' money as down payment assistance. Please check with your financial representative to see if these funds will qualify for that use. If not, the funds may be directed toward other sales contract items relative to the home replacement. Funds will be available at closing.
THA Retailers...

The Tennessee Manufactured Housing Foundation ( The Industry's Helping Hand ) is offering $500 in assistance to any of your purchasing customers who were affected by the March 3rd Tornado Disaster.

If your customer owned (or was financing) a manufactured home and the home was their primary residence for at least one year, please take a moment to review the minimum requirements, to see if your customer qualifies for this gifted assistance. (This applies to purchasing customers who must replace their damaged or destroyed manufactured home.)

Restrictions do apply , so please download the linked one-page document below, to see how you can offer this assistance to your customer.

The Foundation has set aside $20,000. Once the funds have been depleted, no additional assistance will be processed under this offering, unless additional monetary donations are received by TMHF for this effort.