Living the Dream: Independent Living With Heart
Wendy Askins, Executive Director of the Upper Cumberland Development District

After many months of hard work by volunteers and contractors alike, Living the Dream Independent Living Facility is finally a reality. Located on eleven acres west of Cookeville, Living the Dream, or LTD, is a 6,600 square foot living facility designed for those who would otherwise be unable to live independently.

“Living the Dream is literally a dream come true for me. We’ve had a lot of hurdles to overcome to make this facility a reality, and it took over a year and half to get it off the ground, but all the hard work has been worth it,” said Wendy Askins, executive director of the Upper Cumberland Development District (UCDD) and licensed assisted living administrator. “I’ve volunteered many hours to make this project successful, as have numerous others. Serving others is a calling, and it is also a fundamental core value of the Upper Cumberland Development District.

“We still have a lot to get done before we are completely finished, but were really happy to have come as far as we have. We looked for a long time to determine the greatest housing needs in our region, and assisted living along with independent living facilities kept coming to the forefront as a needed service in the Upper Cumberland. We are so happy to be able to share LTD with our friends and neighbors.” Phase II of Living the Dream is nearing completion, with Phase III, which will have a covered atrium as its focal point, ready to begin. Living the Dream’s indoor facility includes all modern amenities such as a media room, exercise space, computers, commercial kitchen and laundry. The campus area contains garden spaces, walking areas, a 50’ x 100’ barn to house a variety of therapeutic animals and parking for visitors.

The Upper Cumberland Development District and its umbrella agency, the Cumberland Regional Development Corporation (CRDC), the sponsoring organization of LTD, have worked together since 1997 to sponsor many projects in the Upper Cumberland, all designed to improve the quality of life in the region by meeting very specific needs, especially in the area of safe, affordable housing. These projects have included a Farm Labor Facility, HUD 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities, a Low-Income Elderly Facility, Relative Caregiver Housing, and a soon-to-be constructed United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development funded assisted living facility in Overton County.

While these facilities have been funded through a variety of state and federal assistance programs, Living the Dream is different. The entire facility, from inception to construction has been built using only private funding; not one dollar of state or federal money has gone into the construction of LTD. The facility was born of the desire to meet the needs of underserved populations, and the belief that such projects can still be accomplished by people who have faith and the conviction that serving others is the highest calling one can receive. Living the Dream is proof that fundamental needs can be met throughout our community by those who share the same dream of helping others.

For more information about LTD, call resident manager Sherry Weaver at 931-858-4117 or by visiting their website, www.ucdd.org.