TOP PHOTO:  This is the 35th Habitat for Humanity House to be built in Campbell County. 

Campbell County Habitat for Humanity Board President Zach Sheets, new homeowner Tiffany Brooks and LaFollette Mayor Mike Stanfield at the house dedication on Friday. 

By:  Charlotte Underwood

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – The future looks bright for Tiffany Brooks, who is the newest recipient of a Habitat for Humanity House. A multitude of family, friends, and local volunteers gathered for the dedication ceremony held Friday afternoon. It was the 35th house built by Habitat for Humanity in Campbell County.

For Brooks and her son, Joey Cooper, it’s a”blessing from God.”  Her journey started four years ago when she was in the drug court and asked to be placed in a “faith based program.” She found that in the Shepherd’s Home and with her mentor Liz Allin, who has helped her over the last four years. Around eight months ago, she applied for a Habitat House and was “overjoyed” to learn she had been chosen. “I figured you lead by example and I would show others that a new start is possible,” Brooks said. She was willing to put in the hard work and sweat equity required by the Habitat program to get the house built.

Habitat for Humanity’s newest homeowner Tiffany Brooks holds her little cousin Raven as she cuts the ribbon on her new home in LaFollette. 

LaFollette Mayor Mike Stanfield among the city officials who attended the dedication.  “It’s a great program for our city and our residents. It puts more taxes into the city and this particular project and the last one helped clean up this old city lot. It’s a great program that brings people together to help one another. It’s not about us, it’s about serving the people,” Stanfield said.

The lot the last two Habitat houses were built on was a two-house lot with a dilapidated house sitting on it that needed torn down, according to Habitat for Humanity board president Zach Sheets. He said the city and the council were instrumental in the project. “The city was kind enough to rezone the lot for us from a two house lot to a four house lot, and we plan to hopefully get two more houses built on it this year,” Sheets said.

Tiffany Brooks, along with family, friends and volunteers were present at the Habitat for Humanity House dedication held on Friday afternoon. 

The two Habitat houses currently on the lot are the first two houses to be built within the LaFollette city limits in 10 years, according to Sheets. “The people that get theses houses are hard working, deserving individuals who otherwise might not have an opportunity to be homeowners,” Sheets said, adding that Brooks had put in as much hard work as the regular construction workers in building the home.  “Tiffany has been fantastic to work with and has put in so much effort to make this happen. I also can’t thank the city and the county enough for their part in this as well,” Sheets said.

Much of the construction on the home was done by Shannon Cox Construction, who partnered with Habitat on the build, but a large amount of work was completed by Brooks and her daughter Brittany. A special thanks was also extended to Lee and Linda Heatherly for their help with the home and for the “many years of hard work and dedication to the Campbell County Habitat for Humanity.” Other special recognition was noted to Mike Stanfield, the city of LaFollette and Jim Mullens.

Tiffany Brooks, along with family, friends and volunteers were present at the Habitat for Humanity House dedication held on Friday afternoon. 

Volunteers with different skill sets are always needed at Habitat for Humanity, everything from board members to people who staff the Habitat Restore to those wanting to help build the houses. Anyone wishing to learn more about volunteering can contact Sheets at 423-566-4010 or via email at zach.sheets@edwardjones.com.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 01/27/2020-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLOTTE UNDERWOOD)