Finding quality and affordable housing for refugees is hard to come by within the inner-city areas of Memphis. Asha’s Refuge has been working with a team of organizations seeking to help refugees in many ways. One of these ways is working to find ways to provide better housing.

Our friends at Christ Community Health Services have been working with the Binghampton Development Corporation regarding the housing issues for refugees. They have just announced that they have closed a deal on some apartments at 218 Tillman. This apartment complex will be redeveloped and a portion of these apartments will provide housing for refugees.

In order to begin the processes of redeveloping the apartments at Tillman, there will be a demolation party Saturday, January 21 from 7am – 12pm. Can you help? If you would like to help please let us know!

Here is a copy of the note from the BDC that was forwarded to me by Steve Moses at Christ Comunity Health Services:

The Binghampton Development Corperation closed the acquisition of the apartments at 218 Tillman over the holidays. The severely blighted apartments are on Tillman, north of Walnut Grove and adjacent to the Shelby Farms Greenline trail on the east side of Tillman – in a very strategic location. We are starting the renovation process to restore the 20 units in a redevelopment plan which we estimate will cost approximately $500,000.

We can really use your help. With a great deal of cabinets, sheet rock and other debris to remove, we are planning a large volunteer demolition event from 7 AM to Noon on Saturday, January 21st. We would love to have 20 teams of 5 to each adopt a unit. We recommend you bring work gloves, safety glasses, and hats. Also, flat shovels, pry bars, hammers, wheel barrows and cordless drill / screw drivers will be helpful if you have them.

We’re planning to make this a fun celebration and will set up a grill and provide lunch at noon. As you know you’ll be able to join us, please let us know so we can make our food plans. And, we’ll make sure you’re hungry….

Please bring your family and friends and come help advance the revitalization of the historic Binghampton neighborhood and provide a visible sign of hope for those marginalized in our city.