ORHA Leadership
Board of Directors
| Name | Position |
| Tom Beehan | Board Chair |
| Sharon Crane | Commissioner |
| Cindy Johnson | Commissioner |
| TBD | Commissioner |
| Jim Palmer | Vice Chair |
Staff
Maria Catron, Executive Director/Secretary/Treasurer
mcatron@orha.net
Jim Ratliff, Director of Operations
jratliff@orha.net
Housing Choice Voucher Director
section8@orha.net
LaToyia Osborne, Housing Choice Voucher Specialist
losborne@orha.net
Kathy Grizzell, Housing Choice Voucher Specialist
kgrizzell@orha.net
Kari King, Public Housing Director
kking@orha.net
Erin Garner, Public Housing Specialist
egarner@orha.net
Alexis Harris, Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator
aharris@orha.net
Jose Perez, Maintenance Director
jperez@orha.net
John "Rich" Clayton, Maintenance Mechanic
jclayton@orha.net
David Caldwell, Maintenance Aide
dcaldwell@orha.net
Our History
The Oak Ridge Housing Authority (ORHA) was established in September 1969 under Tennessee's Housing Authorities Law. A Cooperation Agreement with the City of Oak Ridge in 1973 allowed ORHA to pursue funding for its first housing development: 50 units completed in 1976 on Van Hicks Lane, Van Hicks Place, and Joel Lane. In 1983, the agreement expanded to include 78 additional units across scattered sites, completed in 1986.
A New Era: The RAD Conversion
In a significant milestone for our organization and the families we serve, ORHA successfully completed a Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) conversion, transitioning our 128 formerly public housing units to a more sustainable and resident-centered model. RAD is a federal program that allows housing authorities to convert traditional public housing to long-term Section 8 project-based contracts, unlocking access to private financing for capital improvements and ensuring the long-term preservation of affordable housing in our community.
This means ORHA is no longer a traditional public housing provider. Instead, our residential units now operate under Project-Based Vouchers (PBV), giving residents stronger housing protections and our organization greater ability to invest in the quality and sustainability of our properties.
How We Serve Residents Today
ORHA currently serves the community through two primary programs:
Project-Based Vouchers (PBV): Rental assistance tied directly to our converted properties, ensuring long-term affordability for residents in our communities.
Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8): Tenant-based rental assistance that empowers eligible families to find housing in the private market. ORHA currently provides approximately $104,000 in monthly housing assistance to around 260 families, including 35 VASH vouchers for veterans, a distinction held by only four housing authorities in Tennessee.
Economic Impact
ORHA has approximately $4.25 million in assets, $690,000 in reserves, and contributes around $1.6 million annually to the local economy.
Structure
Five commissioners, appointed by Oak Ridge City Council, oversee ORHA. ORHA also contracts or hires skilled and unskilled labor as needed, with job opportunities often shared with voucher residents and the broader community.
