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Loading...Tennessee has over 138 official home improvement grants, repairs grants, programs and local resources available to low income homeowner families and individuals (most programs are based on income). This article provides you with all the main home repair programs offered throughout the state in 2023.
Updated: November 15, 2023
Who provide home improvement grants in Tennessee?
There are 4 main sources of financial assistance for home improvement and repair in Tennessee:
- 1- Federal Programs : HUD (Housing and Urban Development) is the Federal housing agency providing programs and funds to the State, its Counties and Cities.
- 2- State Programs : TN’s Housing Development Agency has programs to help homeowners.
- 3- Community organizations: Many offer help for home repair, improvement and home modification.
- 4- Counties and cities programs : are the organizations offering funds and programs to help NC homeowners with home repair, home rehabilitation and home improvement.
- 5- Rural programs: are for people living outside of a major city in a rural area and are offered by the USDA.
You can review the Federal and the State of Tennessee home repair grants but ultimately your county and city are the ones you need to contact and where you apply for funding.
Who is eligible for government home improvement grant?
Every homeowner is eligible for home improvement and repairs grants and assistance in Tennessee (find them all in this article). In reality, because the needs are so big, some groups like seniors, veterans, disabled and low-income households are given priority. Even in those cases, you need to apply as soon as possible because funds are limited.
So it’s often first arrived on a first served basis: apply early.
Each programs have their own eligibility, so you need to verify with programs in your area to see info you meet the income eligibility level.
Which home improvement & repair are eligible?
In general, in Tennessee repair and improvement help with:
- – Ensure your home does not harm the residents’ health.
- – Ensure your home structure is sound and may not hurt its resident.
- – Help seniors and disabled residents stay in their homes longer and safer.
More precisely the following work and repair are usually covered by home improvement grants programs:
- – Roof: Government grants for free roof replacement or repair. Also our Guide to Roof Repairs.
- – Windows & doors: NJ window replacement program info is right below. We have also a Windows Replacement Guide.
- – Foundations: Foundation repair grants and programs usually covers home foundation repairs.
- – Electrical & plumbing : Grants for electrical repair and plumbing assistance repairs are covered as long as they bring your home electrical and plumbing up to the local code.
- – Heating & cooling: Some States and Counties have heating grants and cooling programs to bring your system up to living standards.
- – Lead paints & pipes plus asbestos: Most programs cover the removal and change of lead and asbestos materials dangerous to your health.
- – Sewers and water line: Most home improvement grant programs cover funds to have your home connected to your town water and sewer system and in other cases to your well or septic tank.
- – Home structure: In some cases, if your home structure is no longer safe, programs will help with fixing the home structural problems. Note: in some cases the cost may be too high to fix and another program can help get a new one.
- – Home remodeling: In some cases a home can be remodeled if they need major repairs as long as the cost is not prohibitive. Since the total amount vary by program you have to verify on this page for programs in your area.
- – Bathroom remodeling: Some programs let you remodel a bathroom in order to bring them to sanitary and health standard.
- – Home modifications for seniors: There are multiple programs to modify seniors’ homes to help them living longer independently at home. Common modification are ramps, handle bars, bathrooms modification and kitchen are adaptations. You can find those resources in our resource for senior home modifications.
Confused about home improvement programs terms?
It can be confusing to understand the terms. Lots of different organizations have different words for the same type of help programs: home improvement grant, home repair grants, programs, free grants, relief service, repair assistance, etc. They are all synonyms of programs designed to help low and moderate income homeowners repair and fix important element of their house.
What are the types of home improvement help in TN?
Home repair programs comes in many form but they are usually in the 5 types:
Home Repair Grants & Home Improvement Grants: Typically grants don’t need to be repaid. The organization providing the funding covers the cost of the work and you don’t pay anything back.
Volunteers and charities home repairs: Some organizations rely on volunteers to repair your home so there’s no cost to you.
Home improvement loans: These are traditional loans where you have to repay a fixed amount monthly but they are usually with a lower than normal interest rate.
Home improvement loans paid at term: It’s a traditional loan paid back in full only when you leave or sell your home. This means you have nothing to pay monthly. The organization offering these loans usually takes a lien on your home to be certain to be paid in the future.
Forgivable home improvement loans: It’s a traditional loan but you do have to pay it back monthly. Instead after a few years the organization forgives your loan.
Note: In some rare cases you may find yourself with a mix of the types above. In all cases the important thing is you get help to fix your home and keep it secured and a place for you to live in a safe and healthy home.
HUD (Urban Housing Department)
HUD is the federal agency providing help and funding to States’ Housing agencies, Counties and Cities. HUD have many programs from home buyer help, renter help, homeowners funding for home repairs and improvements, among many programs.
Tennessee Housing Development Agency (3 programs)
The THDA have 3 programs for homeowners. All of them are managed locally either with your county, city or a non-profit organization.
Emergency Repair: The program repair, or replace an essential system and/or critical structural problem for low-income homeowners who are elderly (60+) or disabled.
Eligible repairs:
- – Roofs
- – Electrical systems
- – Plumbing systems
- – Septic systems
- – Heating and air (HVAC) systems
- – Repairs to floors or walls
- – Insulation
- – Window and door replacement
- – Bathroom modifications and ramps necessary for the homeowner with a physical disability to safely access and use the home for basic life needs.
More information and local program contacts.
Home Modifications and Ramps: Program provides funding to construct ramps and make other home modifications to assist persons with disabilities gain better access to their homes. The program is manage throughout the state by United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee.
Weatherization Assistance: See below for more weatherization information in Tennessee.
Statewide organizations (78 Programs & Resources)
Community Action Agencies of Tennessee (CAA) (20 resources)
These 20 non profits located throughout Tennessee offer many services to their residents area. One is often home repair assistance programs for low and moderate income homeowners.
Find your area CAA. Then contact your closest agency to see the programs they have for homeowners like you.
Habitat for Humanity (38 programs)
With 38 local organizations in TN, Habitat provide help to low income, disable and elderly homeowners to fix their home. Find and contact your local Habitat organization in Tennessee.
Habitat ReStores (18 resources)
ReStores provide discounted used and surplus building materials, plus appliances and furniture in over 18 locations throughout the state.
Rebuilding Together (2 resources)
RT helps homeowners in need repair or modify their home and be able to live safely in it much longer. RT have 2 local chapters in Knoxville and the Nashville.
Veteran Affairs (1 program)
Home improvement & modification: Program provides in Tennessee medically necessary improvements and structural alterations to Veterans/Service members’ primary residence for $6,800.
Work purposes:
– Allowing entrance to or exit from the primary residence
– Use of essential lavatory and sanitary facilities (e.g. roll in showers)
– Allowing accessibility to kitchen or bathroom sinks or counters (e.g. lowering counters/sinks)
– Improving entrance paths or driveways in immediate area of the home to facilitate access to the home through construction of permanent ramping
– Improving plumbing or electrical systems made necessary due to installation of home medical equipment
Find more details and how to apply
Tennessee’s WAP & LIHEAP (2 programs)
WAP: Weatherization Assistant Program (WAP) is funded by the Federal but managed locally. It helps improve or change windows for energy efficient ones at no cost. It also pay for attic insulation and ventilation, repair or replace broken heating, cooling and water heaters, as well as many other small work to improve your home’s energy efficiency.
Types of assistance:
- – Address air infiltration with weather stripping, caulking, thresholds, minor repairs to walls, ceilings and floors, and window and door replacement
- – Install attic and floor insulation.
- – Install attic ventilation.
- – Apply solar reflective coating to manufactured homes.
- – Install solar screens.
- – Repair or replace inefficient heating and cooling units.
- – Repair or replace water heaters.
Find the program detail and contact your regional agency managing it.
LIHEAP: This program is mostly to help pay your heating and cooling cost but it may also help fix, repair or replace broken windows for energy efficient ones.
Find more info about the program eligibility and contact your regional agency managing it.
Tennessee Disaster Recovery (many)
If you have been in a natural disaster, you may qualify for Tennessee’s Disaster Recovery Programs.
Verify if your area has been declared a federal disaster area. If you are in a federal disaster area you can apply to a multitude of programs.
You may be able to claim housing, financial, food, medical, etc. There’s a 1 federal site for all claims.
Tennessee Rural Residents (1 program)
The USDA provide home improvement loans and government grants to low-income homeowners in NJ’s rural areas.
Who may apply for this program? To qualify, you must:
- – Be the homeowner and occupy the house.
- – Be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere.
- – Have a family income below 50 percent of the area median income.
- – For grants, be age 62 or older and not be able to repay a repair loan.
What is an eligible area?
Applicants may check the address of their home to determine eligibility.
How may funds be used?
Loans may be used to repair, improve or modernize housing or remove health and safety hazards.
Grants must be used to remove health and safety hazards.
How much money can I get?
- – Maximum loan is $20,000
- – Maximum grant is $7,500
- – Loans and grants can be combined for up to $27,500 in payment assistance
What are the terms of the loan or grant?
- – Loans can be repaid over 20 years
- – Loan interest rate is fixed at 1%
- – Full title service is required for loans of $7,500 or more
- – Grants have a lifetime limit of $7,500
- – Grants must be repaid if the property is sold in less than 3 years
- – If applicants can repay part, but not all of the costs, applicants may be offered a loan and grant combination
Is there a deadline to apply?
Applications for this program are accepted through your local USDA’s RD office all year round.
How long does an application take?
Approval times depend on funds availability in your area.
Seniors and Elderly Help for Home Repairs (many)
There are official elderly home repair assistance in Tennessee but they are not only for seniors. Seniors, just like all Tennesseans, are eligible to the same home improvement programs listed on this page.
You can also contact your local Area Agency on Aging to find local programs for seniors home repairs and home modifications.
You can also find home modification programs for seniors
Counties and Cities Programs (50 programs)
Some Tennessee counties have approved home repair and government grant programs and most major cities also have similar help for homeowners. You can find most of them below.
If you don’t see your county or city below you should contact it directly and ask them if the city have a home repair program. Then you should also verify if you are not considered living in a rural area and you may then be eligible to the USDA rural program.
Shelby County (1 program)
Housing Rehabilitation: The program’s goal is to improve housing conditions for low- and moderate-income families in Shelby County by correcting health and safety hazards and code violations.
Memphis (3 programs)
Homeowner Empowerment: 901HELP provides a 10-year, low-interest home repair loans between $5,000 and $25,000 to low and moderate-income homeowners in the City of Memphis who meet income and other eligibility requirements.
Example of projects:
- – Correcting health and safety hazards including removal of lead (required)
- – Electrical repairs
- – Furnace replacement
- – Roof replacement
- Plumbing
- – Energy efficiency upgrades
- – Door and window replacements
- – Porches and structural support
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP): The program promotes energy-efficient homes for low-income households through the installation of energy conservation measures. Examples include, but are not limited to, installing insulation, reducing air-infiltration, performing heating and cooling tune-ups, and modifications. When health and safety is a concern, the weatherization program will replace or install equipment to resolve the issue.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis
Aging In Place (AIP): Program offers mobility and accessibility modifications and critical home repairs for older homeowners.
Davidson County (0 program)
No specific county program. See Nashville area programs below.
Nashville (5 programs)
Accessibility: Program is for the installation of accessibility improvements in homes owned and occupied by elderly (62 years of age or older) and/or disabled households throughout Davidson County.
Homeowner Rehab: The program corrects major housing systems and/or health and safety issues. The assistance is provided as follows: 1) Homeowners 62 years of age and older will receive a 0% interest loan with a 5-year term/compliance period. The loan is forgiven entirely upon completion of the 5-year period. If ownership of the property transfers during the 5-year term/compliance period, the full amount of the loan becomes due and payable; and 2) All other homeowners will receive a 0% interest deferred loan, with no payment required until the property is sold or transferred.
HVAC Replacement: Program addresses non-functioning HVAC systems. This program also provides for the new installation of HVAC systems for properties that have never had an HVAC system. This is a grant.
Roof Program: The program replaces roofs if not covered by homeowner’s insurance. The assistance is provided as follows: 1) Homeowners 62 years of age and older will receive a 0% interest loan with a 5-year term/compliance period. The loan is forgiven entirely upon completion of the 5-year term/compliance period. 2) All other homeowners will receive a 0% interest deferred loan, with no payment required until the property is sold or transferred.
Window Loan: This program replaces defective windows with Energy Star rated compliant windows and/or repairs and/or adds/replaces storm windows if window replacement is needed for the home. The assistance is provided as follows: 1) Homeowners 62 years of age or older receive a 0% interest loan with a 5-year term/compliance period. The loan is forgiven entirely upon completion of the 5-year period. 2) All other homeowners will receive a 0% interest deferred loan, with no payment required until the property is sold or transferred.
More information about all programs
Knox County (3 programs)
Owner-Occupied Home Repair: The program’s services are available for eligible Knox County, City of Knoxville, and City of Morristown homeowners. The program works with eligible individuals and families to identify housing conditions that require repair to make the home safe, decent, and more affordable.
Septic Repair: Program inspects, fixes, or changes home septic systems for eligible homeowners.
Weatherization & Energy Efficiency: The program’s goal is to reduce the energy costs of low-income families. Approved homes will receive an energy efficiency audit to review how to reduce home energy costs and increase home energy efficiency. Activities include: energy efficiency audit, insulation, caulking, and other related activities to reduce home energy costs and increase home energy efficiency.
3 programs detailed information.
Knoxville city (2 programs)
Owner-Occupied Home Rehabilitation: The program helps low- and moderate-income homeowners to make significant repairs to their homes to bring them up to the City of Knoxville’s standards.
Knoxville Habitat for Humanity (1 program)
Critical Home Repair: The program helps local seniors stay in their homes for years longer. Program does home repair and home modifications such as replacing an aging HVAC system or a leaking roof, installing ramps, and shower handles.
Hamilton County (2 programs)
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area
CRITICAL HOME REPAIR: The program can do extensive interior or exterior work performed to alleviate critical health, life, and safety issues or code violations.
Examples of work:
- – Interior and exterior work necessary to maintain the home
- – Window replacement
- – Extensive siding and trim repair or replacement
- – Major roof repair or replacement
- – Porch or wheelchair ramp construction
- – Installation or extension of house systems (heating, electrical, plumbing, etc.)
- – Floor and wall repair/replacement
- – Foundation repair
WEATHERIZATION: The program improves the energy efficiency and overall indoor air quality and comfort of the home.
Examples of work:
- – Interior and exterior work
- – Replacement of windows and doors
- – Caulking/foaming cracks and gaps
- – Insulating openings, attics, crawlspaces, etc.
- – Minor repairs to ventilation systems
- – Adding or replacing door seals
- – Insulating pipes and duct work; wrapping water heaters
- – Applying insulation in walls
More information on both programs.
Chattanooga city (1 program)
Minor Home Repair: Program assists homeowners with minor home repairs who live inside the Chattanooga City limits. These repairs are completed through partnerships with selected non-profit organizations at no cost to the applicant.
Rutherford County (2 programs)
Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity
Critical Home Repair: Program is for low-to-moderate-income families who need a hand up. A portion of the cost is passed on to the homeowner for repayment of materials purchased. There is no charge for the labor.
Aging In Place Repair: The program is for seniors and does accessibility enhancements, energy efficiency improvements, and critical home repairs that are necessary to enable senior citizens to move around safely inside their homes and complete the routines of daily living.
Murfreesboro city (4 programs)
Emergency Repairs: The program assists very-low-income homeowners with a grant of up to $10,000 to cover the cost of emergency repairs to roofs, HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical, or structural problems which pose an immediate threat to the health and welfare of the household.
Housing Rehabilitation: Program offers five-year forgivable loans to assist homeowners whose homes have one or more substandard conditions. The program offers up to $25,000 to cover repairs.
Sanitary Sewer Tap: The program helps qualified homeowners in paying Murfreesboro Water Resources Department sanitary sewer system connection fees.
Tree Removal: Program offers one-year forgivable loans of up to $2,500 per household per year to remove trees which have become hazards.
Williamson County (1 program)
Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury
Critical Home Repair: Program provides major repairs at an affordable rate to keep local residents safe, warm, and from being displaced.
Repair can include:
- – Unsafe roof or floor
- – Ramps & accessibility needs
- – Lack of heat or cooling
- – Electrical hazards
- – Interior/Exterior work needed to maintain the home
- – Weatherization
- – Plumbing hazards
Franklin City (1 program)
CDBG Program: The city receives funding for, among other things, rehabilitation of residential structures. You have to contact the city directly to see if how they use those funds and if they still have funds this year.
Montgomery County (1 program)
HOME Grant: Program does Housing Rehabilitation and the purpose of the grant is to correct eligible substandard owner-occupied housing located in the county. Rehabilitation work will correct deficiencies in eligible homes and make them safe, sanitary, and energy-efficient.
Clarksville (2 programs)
HOUSING REHABILITATION: The program is managed by Neighborhood and Community Services. The program enables eligible homeowners within the city limits of Clarksville to maintain the quality of their housing and create a positive effect in the surrounding neighborhood.
They assist homeowners by lowering energy bills, correcting health and safety hazards as well as code violations, and making other repairs.
Eligible work includes:
- – Accessibility Improvements
- – Electrical repairs
- – Environmental correction
- – Installing new steps
- – Installing smoke detectors
- – New gutters and downspouts
- – Repairing or replacing leaking roofs
- – Replacement of hot water heaters
- – Replacing windows and doors
- – Weather stripping
Elderly or Disabled Home Improvements: Program provides elderly or disabled installing accessibility ramps, grab bars, and other barrier-free improvements that will make it easier for you to get around.
More information here for both programs
Sumner County (1 program)
Habitat for Humanity of Sumner County
OWNER-OCCUPIED REPAIRS: Program potential participants must belong to one of the following categories: individuals aged 60 and above, those with disabilities, or veterans. Families seeking assistance with home repairs must demonstrate their genuine need, financial capacity, and commitment to collaboration. Work done are either critical repairs or home modification.
Sullivan County (0 program)
No direct county program. Look at the Rural Programs above on this page.
Kingsport city (2 programs)
Home Repair: Program is managed by Habitat for Humanity. The Program can provide critical repairs or accessibility modifications:
- – Porch and deck repairs
- – Installation of wheelchair ramps
- – Roof repairs and replacement
- – Gutter repairs
- – HVAC repairs and replacement
Kingsport Alliance for Housing Revitalization (KAHR)
Home Repair: The program assists low-income families in maintaining decent, safe, sanitary, and energy-efficient housing by rehabilitating substandard single-family dwellings to meet local standards and environmental requirements. The emergency repair component of the program eliminates unsafe, hazardous, and unsanitary conditions that require immediate attention. Eligible applicants will receive a one-time grant.
Repairs can include:
- – Electrical
- – Roofing
- – Plumbing
- – HVAC repairs
- – Foundation repair or replacement is not eligible.
Wilson County (0 program)
No direct county program. Look a the Rural programs above on this page.
Blount County (1 program)
Blount County Habitat for Humanity
HOME REPAIR: Program helps county homeowners repair their homes at a lower cost. Habitat utilizes loans, grants, and donated services to make home repairs affordable.
Projects include:
- – Roofing
- – Heating & Air
- – Bathroom Modifications
- – Ramps
- – Trip Hazards (Interior & Exterior)
- – Electrical Systems
- – Plumbing Systems & Leaks
Washington County (1 program)
Holston Habitat for Humanity
Home Repair: Program is open for resident living within the city limits of Kingsport. Program can provide critical repairs or accessibility modifications:
- – Porch and deck repairs
- – Installation of wheelchair ramps
- – Roof repairs and replacement
- – Gutter repairs
- – HVAC repairs and replacement
Bradley County (1 program)
Habitat for Humanity Cleveland
<Aging in Place: Program help senior homeowners with small repairs or home modifications.
- – Installation of handrails
- – Wheelchair ramps
- – Heightened toilet seats
- – Shower grab bars
- – Wheelchair-accessible doorways
Maury County (1 program)
Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury
Critical Home Repair: Program provides major repairs at an affordable rate to keep local residents safe, warm, and from being displaced.
- – Unsafe roof or floor
- – Ramps & accessibility needs
- – Lack of heat or cooling
- – Electrical hazards
- – Interior/Exterior work needed to maintain the home
- – Weatherization
- – Plumbing hazards
Madison County (1 program)
SOUTHWEST HUMAN RESOURCE AGENCY
EMERGENCY REPAIR: The program provides grants to low income, elderly, or disabled homeowners who are 60 years or older to correct, repair, or replace an essential system or a critical structural problem. The purpose of the program is to stabilize the elderly homeowner’s residence by making rapid, essential repairs to make the home livable. The maximum grant is $15,000.
Sevier County (0 program)
No direct county program. Look at the Rural programs above on this page.