Home Repair Grants in Tennessee: 2026 Programs

Last updated: July 27, 2026

Unsafe home right now? Leave the home and call 911 for fire, gas, electrical, collapse, or immediate injury danger. For a suspected gas leak, do not switch lights on or off. Call the gas utility from outside. A repair program is not an emergency-response service.

Bottom line: Tennessee does not have one open application that pays for every type of home repair. The strongest statewide routes are the Tennessee Housing Development Agency Emergency Repair Program for qualifying older or disabled homeowners, USDA Section 504 for very-low-income rural homeowners, weatherization services, utility-sponsored energy upgrades, and disability-access programs. City programs may offer grants, forgivable loans, or low-interest loans, but openings, waitlists, liens, and repayment rules vary.

This guide helps Tennessee homeowners find help for leaking roofs, unsafe wiring, failed plumbing, heating or cooling problems, accessibility changes, weatherization, and other essential repairs. Funding can close without notice, so confirm current intake before paying for estimates or signing a contract.

Tennessee home repair help: quick reference

Repair need	Best first program	Type of help	Important limit
Immediate health or safety repair for a homeowner age 60+ or disabled	THDA Emergency Repair Program	True grant	Up to $24,999 over the homeowner’s lifetime; local agency rules apply
Major repairs in an eligible rural area	USDA Section 504	1% loan, grant for eligible homeowners age 62+, or both	Standard maximums are $40,000 loan and $10,000 grant
Insulation, air leaks, ducts, and energy waste	Weatherization Assistance Program	Direct service, not cash	An energy audit decides the work; unsafe homes can be deferred
Heating or cooling upgrades through a participating power company	TVA Home Uplift	No-cost direct upgrades	Not offered by every local power company
Wheelchair ramp or mobility access	UCP Home Access or a local access program	Materials and installation assistance	Waitlists and income rules apply
Utility bill help while waiting for repairs	LIHEAP	One-time utility payment grant	It does not repair the home
Repairs inside Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, or Chattanooga	City or county housing office	Grant, forgivable loan, low-interest loan, or direct service	Ask about liens, repayment, and current intake before applying

Where Tennessee homeowners should start

Describe the danger, not only the repair. Say “the ceiling is wet near the electrical panel” instead of only “I need a roof.” Health and safety facts help an agency route the case correctly.
Check the statewide programs first. Start with THDA if someone in the home is age 60 or older or has a disability. Check USDA if the property is rural.
Call the city or county housing office. Local programs often have narrow service areas and short intake windows.
Contact the local power company. Ask whether it participates in TVA Home Uplift, weatherization referrals, heat-pump programs, or emergency energy assistance.
Apply to more than one appropriate program. A roof program, weatherization agency, disability-access program, and utility program may each cover different parts of the same problem.

Phone script: “I own and live in a home in [county or city]. My household has [number] people, and our approximate monthly gross income is $[amount]. The urgent problem is [repair and safety risk]. Is your program accepting applications or waitlist forms? Is the help a grant, loan, forgivable loan, or lien-backed assistance? What documents should I prepare?”

For local referrals, dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211. Tennessee 211 is a referral service, not a repair fund.

Main statewide Tennessee repair programs

THDA Emergency Repair Program

The Emergency Repair Program is one of Tennessee’s strongest true home repair grants. It is administered by local agencies with funding from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. Homeowners do not apply directly to THDA.

Type of help: Grant. The current THDA program page says there is no repayment, no lien, and no compliance period.

Maximum help: Up to $24,999 over the homeowner’s lifetime. The local agency decides the approved scope and cost; applicants do not automatically receive the maximum.

You may qualify when all of these are true:

You own and occupy the property as your principal residence.
You have lived in the home for at least three years.
Someone who owns and lives in the home is age 60 or older, or has a disability.
The household meets the local income standard.
Property taxes are current.
The repair is necessary to correct an immediate health or safety problem.

Eligible work may include a failed roof, dangerous wiring, plumbing or septic failure, critical heating or cooling problems, unsafe floors or walls, safety-related doors or windows, and accessibility work. Cosmetic remodeling, detached buildings, landscaping, tools, and ordinary appliances are generally excluded.

Local administrators may add priorities or screening rules. Use THDA’s home repair program page to find your county agency and current intake status.

Helpful evidence: Photograph the damage from a safe location. Write down when it began, whether water, sewage, heat, electricity, or accessibility is affected, and whether a doctor, fire department, utility, code officer, or licensed contractor documented the danger.

USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants

The USDA Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants program, commonly called Section 504, is available in eligible rural areas of Tennessee. It can fund broader repairs than many emergency-only programs. Check the official USDA Tennessee Section 504 page for county income limits, property eligibility, forms, and local Rural Development contacts.

Type of help:

Loan: Up to $40,000 at 1% interest for 20 years.
Grant: Up to $10,000 for homeowners age 62 or older who cannot repay a loan. Grant funds may be used only to remove health and safety hazards.
Combined help: Up to $50,000 under the standard limits.

Repayment warning: A Section 504 grant is a lifetime benefit and normally must be repaid if the property is sold within three years. A loan is secured debt. USDA may require full title service when the outstanding Section 504 loan balance exceeds $25,000.

Applicants must own and occupy an eligible rural home, meet the county’s very-low-income limit, and be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere. Applications are accepted year-round, subject to funding.

Call Tennessee Rural Housing Service at 615-783-1376 or 800-342-3149, extension 1376. See our USDA Section 504 guide for more application help.

Weatherization Assistance Program

Tennessee’s Weatherization Assistance Program provides energy-saving work through local community agencies and governments in all 95 counties, subject to funding.

Type of help: Direct service. The homeowner does not receive a cash grant to hire a contractor.

A certified energy audit determines the work. Possible measures include air sealing, duct sealing, and insulation in attics, walls, or floors. Weatherization is not a general remodeling program and does not promise a new roof, kitchen, bathroom, or full HVAC system.

Deferral risk: A home with severe roof leaks, unsafe wiring, active sewage problems, major structural failure, mold caused by unresolved water entry, or other conditions that prevent safe weatherization may be deferred until those problems are corrected.

Older adults, people with disabilities, and households with children receive priority. The local agency verifies income. Our weatherization guide explains the audit and common measures.

LIHEAP utility assistance

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program can help a household keep electricity, natural gas, propane, or another approved energy source connected while repair applications are pending. Tennessee’s LIHEAP page says the 2025–2026 program provides a one-time benefit of $174 to $750, based on household energy burden. Payment goes to the utility or energy supplier.

Type of help: Utility payment grant. It is not a home repair grant and does not pay a roofer, plumber, electrician, or HVAC contractor.

The current income standard is at or below 60% of State Median Income. Check the current LIHEAP income matrix. Benefits are subject to program-year funding, and local agencies may limit intake as funds are committed.

TVA Home Uplift

TVA Home Uplift provides no-cost energy upgrades through participating local power companies. TVA says participating homes receive an average of about $10,000 in upgrades. Work may include HVAC repair or replacement, insulation, appliances, or an electric water heater, depending on the home’s assessment.

Type of help: Direct no-cost energy upgrades, not cash.

Applicants must be income-qualified customers of a participating power company. Eligible properties include single-family homes and qualifying manufactured homes built after 1976 on permanent foundations. Call 888-986-7262 to check local availability.

Wheelchair ramps and disability-related modifications

UCP Home Access coordinates wheelchair ramps statewide for people with mobility disabilities. THDA funding can pay for lumber and supplies for income-qualified households, while some applicants above the income limit may still receive volunteer coordination if they pay for materials.

Type of help: Ramp materials and installation support. It is not an unrestricted cash grant.

Waitlists are common. Call UCP at 615-242-4091. People with severe disabilities may also ask about Tennessee’s Family Support Program, which may provide up to $6,000 for approved disability-related needs, subject to local funding and priorities.

For local referrals, call 866-836-6678 or use the AAAD directory. Area agencies mainly coordinate services and referrals; they do not promise major repair funding.

Local home repair programs in Tennessee

Local governments may use federal or local funds. Help can be a grant, deferred loan, forgivable loan, or lien-backed award. The city may control contractor selection and inspections.

Area	Current route	What homeowners should know
Nashville and Davidson County	MDHA home repair programs	Accessibility, HVAC, rehabilitation, roof, window, and weatherization help may be available. The application period is open, but MDHA is taking waitlist applications because of demand. Call 615-252-8530.
Memphis	Memphis RRRAP	The interest form is currently closed while prior submissions are processed. Assistance is structured as a forgivable loan with a lien and affordability period, so moving early may trigger repayment. Call Housing and Community Development at 901-636-7300 for status.
Memphis accessibility	Memphis RAMP	The February 23–27, 2026 intake is closed and applications are under review. The program offers no-cost modifications for eligible older or disabled homeowners, but the grant is secured by a five-year lien. Call 901-636-7354.
City of Knoxville	Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation	Significant repairs may be financed with low-interest and forgivable loans. It is not automatically a grant. Applicants must own and occupy a home inside city limits and meet HUD income rules. Call 865-215-2120.
City of Chattanooga	Sewer Lateral Assistance Program	This narrow program can cover the full exterior sewer-lateral repair from the house to the public main for qualifying low-income owner-occupants. It does not cover indoor plumbing or rental property. Call 423-643-5877.
Other cities and counties	Local community development, housing, mayor, or county executive office	Ask whether the area has owner-occupied rehabilitation, emergency repair, septic, accessibility, lead-hazard, or disaster-recovery funds. Intake may be handled by a nonprofit partner rather than city hall.

Ask before signing: “Is this assistance a grant, a loan, a deferred loan, or a forgivable loan? Will a mortgage, deed restriction, or lien be recorded? How long must I remain in the home, and what would I repay if I sell, transfer, refinance, rent the home, or move?”

For a failed private sewer line, see our sewer repair assistance guide. For roof-specific options and documentation tips, see our roof repair grant guide.

Income limits and eligibility are not the same everywhere

There is no single Tennessee income limit for all home repair help. Each funding source uses its own test:

THDA emergency repair administrators use local income criteria and may add priorities.
USDA uses county-specific very-low-income limits and household size.
LIHEAP currently uses 60% of State Median Income.
City programs often use HUD limits, commonly expressed as a percentage of Area Median Income.
TVA Home Uplift and nonprofit programs may use utility-specific or funder-specific standards.

Programs may count wages, Social Security, pensions, disability benefits, and other household income differently. Do not assume you are over income based on another program’s chart.

Ask for the exact rule: “Which income limit applies to my household size and address, what income period do you use, and which household members or benefits must be counted?”

Most programs require owner occupancy. A life estate, heirs’ property, manufactured-home title, land contract, trust, or shared ownership may require extra review. Ask what documents can establish ownership.

Documents to prepare and what happens after you apply

Common documents:

Photo identification for adult household members
Deed, title, life-estate document, or other ownership proof
Recent mortgage statement, if applicable
Property-tax bill and proof taxes are current or on an approved payment plan
Homeowners insurance declaration page, if required
Income proof for every household member, such as pay stubs, Social Security award letters, pension statements, or benefit letters
Recent utility bills
Photos and a written description of the repair
Disability or medical documentation when requesting an accessibility modification
Contractor estimates only when the program asks for them

After intake, the agency may verify income, ownership, taxes, insurance, mortgage status, and property condition. Staff may inspect the home, prepare the work scope, obtain bids, approve the contractor, inspect completion, and pay the contractor directly.

Do not start work early: Many programs cannot reimburse repairs performed before written approval, environmental review, inspection, or a notice to proceed. Emergency stabilization may be necessary for safety, but get written instructions whenever possible.

Keep an application log and copies of every form, photograph, confirmation number, and deadline.

What to do about waitlists, delays, or denials

A waitlist does not reserve funding. Ask how cases are ranked and when to follow up.

Common reasons an application stalls:

Missing income pages or household members
Unpaid property taxes or no documented payment plan
Ownership or manufactured-home title problems
No homeowners insurance when the program requires it
Active foreclosure, bankruptcy, probate, or unresolved divorce
Repair cost above the program cap
Home conditions that make the proposed work unsafe or impractical
Work started before authorization
Applicant did not respond by the document deadline

Ask for the missing item or denial reason in writing.
Ask whether the case is denied, deferred, waitlisted, or closed. Those words have different meanings.
Request the reconsideration, grievance, or appeal deadline and instructions.
Correct factual errors and submit supporting documents before the deadline.
Ask whether a smaller emergency scope can be approved if the full repair exceeds the cap.
Apply to a backup program rather than waiting on only one list.

Follow-up script: “My application number is [number]. Please tell me whether my case is active, waitlisted, deferred, denied, or closed. What exact item is missing? Is there a deadline to correct it or appeal? Can you email or mail the answer to me?”

If title, probate, foreclosure, or contractor disputes block the case, ask for a legal-aid referral.

Veteran, disaster, insurance, and nonprofit backup help

Veterans with service-connected disabilities

Veterans with certain service-connected disabilities may qualify for VA adaptation grants. Fiscal year 2026 maximums are $126,526 for Specially Adapted Housing and $25,350 for Special Home Adaptation. Review the VA disability housing grants and contact a local officer through the Tennessee veterans directory or 615-741-2345. Our veteran repair guide covers more options.

Storm and disaster damage

FEMA or state help applies only to declared events and counties. Check the TEMA assistance page for current deadlines and contacts.

Photograph damage before cleanup when safe.
Prevent additional damage with reasonable temporary measures.
Contact the insurance company promptly and keep claim records.
Keep receipts for temporary repairs and emergency lodging.
Confirm the disaster application deadline before relying on federal help.

Disclose insurance and other aid. Programs cannot pay twice for the same loss.

Volunteer and charitable repair

Habitat affiliates, churches, and rebuilding nonprofits sometimes provide labor or materials. Service is local and limited, and many groups cannot take roofing, mold, electrical, or structural work. Ask 211, AAAD, local emergency management, and nearby Habitat affiliates. A referral is not a funding promise.

Contractor and home repair scam warnings

Red flags:

A door-to-door contractor says the offer expires today.
The contractor demands full payment before work begins.
You are told to pull the permit yourself to hide who is doing the work.
The contractor wants cash only or asks you to sign over an insurance check.
The contract has blank spaces, no scope, no price, or no completion terms.
Someone promises a “government grant” in exchange for an application fee.

The Tennessee Attorney General’s 2026 repair warning advises written contracts and credential checks. State law generally limits a home-improvement down payment to one-third. A state contractor license is generally required for projects of $25,000 or more; local rules may also apply. Check the contractor requirements.

Contractor script: “Please give me your exact legal business name, license number, proof of insurance, written scope, total price, payment schedule, permit responsibility, warranty, and three recent local references. I will verify the information before signing.”

A practical seven-day action plan

Day 1: Photograph the problem safely and write a one-paragraph description of the hazard.
Day 2: Gather the deed, tax bill, insurance page, utility bills, income proof, and identification.
Day 3: Contact the THDA local repair administrator and USDA Rural Development if the property may be rural.
Day 4: Call the city or county housing office and the local power company.
Day 5: Contact UCP, AAAD, veterans services, or Family Support when disability or age-related needs apply.
Day 6: Submit complete forms and record confirmation numbers.
Day 7: Follow up on missing documents and apply to at least one appropriate backup route.

Frequently asked questions

Is there one statewide Tennessee home repair grant?

No. Tennessee uses several programs with different rules. THDA’s Emergency Repair Program is a true grant for qualifying older or disabled homeowners with urgent health and safety repairs. USDA, weatherization, TVA, disability-access, and local programs serve different needs.

How much can the THDA Emergency Repair Program pay?

The current maximum is $24,999 over the homeowner’s lifetime. The approved amount depends on the eligible emergency work, local agency review, and available funding. The program is a grant with no repayment, lien, or compliance period.

Can a Tennessee homeowner under age 60 get repair help?

Yes. The THDA Emergency Repair Program can also serve an owner-occupant with a disability. USDA loans, weatherization, TVA Home Uplift, LIHEAP, disaster programs, and some city programs do not require the homeowner to be 60, although each has its own eligibility rules.

Is USDA Section 504 a grant or a loan?

It can be either. Eligible very-low-income rural homeowners may receive a 1% loan of up to $40,000. Homeowners age 62 or older who cannot repay a loan may qualify for a grant of up to $10,000 to remove health and safety hazards. Some applicants receive both.

Will weatherization replace a leaking roof?

Usually not. Weatherization focuses on energy-saving measures chosen through an audit. A serious roof leak may cause the home to be deferred until the roof is repaired through another program.

What should I do when a city repair program is closed?

Ask whether it accepts a waitlist or interest form and when intake may reopen. Then apply to appropriate statewide, rural, utility, aging, disability, veteran, disaster, or nonprofit programs instead of waiting on only one source.

About This Guide

How we researched this page: We checked official federal, state, local, tribal, utility, and trusted nonprofit sources linked in this article. We reviewed program names, service areas, eligibility rules, application routes, contact details, and whether each option is a grant, loan, rebate, service, or referral.

Our role: HomeRepairGrants.org is an independent information website. We do not run these programs, accept applications, choose recipients, or guarantee funding or approval.

Local changes: Funding, waitlists, service areas, income limits, and application periods can change. Confirm current details with the organization that runs the program before you apply, sign papers, pay money, or start repair work.

Corrections: See something outdated or incorrect? Email info@homerepairgrants.org and include the page URL and a reliable source when possible.

Disclaimer: This guide provides general information. It is not legal, financial, tax, insurance, medical, disability-rights, contractor, or government-agency advice.

Last verified: July 27, 2026 | Next review: October 27, 2026