Home Repairs
Aging in Place with Confidence
Our Critical Home Repair Program helps seniors in Knox County live securely and independently.
Knoxville Habitat for Humanity’s Critical Home Repair (CHR) program assists senior citizens in Knox County by completing necessary home repairs, enabling safer navigation and daily living within their own homes. This initiative supports the independence of seniors, allowing them to live comfortably and securely in their own residences for longer.
How Do I Get Started?
Our Critical Home Repair (CHR) program helps seniors in Knox County live safely and independently in their homes. We focus on critical repairs like roofing and HVAC to ensure a safe living environment.
Here’s how the process works:
- Check Eligibility
- Complete Application
- Home Evaluation
- Approval & Repair Scheduling
- Have more questions?
How do I
Qualify?
Applicants must meet specific criteria to qualify for our Critical Home Repair program, designed to support aging in place for our senior community members.

Homeownership:

Need for Repair:

Age Requirement:

Income-Based Assistance:
This program serves those below 80% AMI.
Required Documentation
- Government-issued ID and proof of ownership
- Documentation to verify identify, age, residency, and income
- Consistent information across all documents, or proof of corrections
Restrictions and Exclusions
- If your home is not a detached, single-family home (example: a condo or mobile home), you may not be eligible for certain services.
- Cosmetic work is NOT covered in this program, including, but not limited to: painting, cabinets, appliances, window treatments/security bars, and repairing trim work.
What is the Cost?
All repair costs, including materials and labor, are covered by Knoxville Habitat through a grant that does not require repayment unless the home is sold or ownership is transferred within five years of the repair completion.
What Happens After the Repairs Are Done?
- Final Inspection and Certificate of Completion
- After all home repairs are finished, a Knoxville Habitat project manager will conduct a final inspection to ensure that the repairs meet our high standards. Once approved, you, the homeowner, will sign a certificate of completion to mark the successful end of the project.
- Deed Restriction and Fee
- As part of the Critical Home Repair Program, a deed restriction will be recorded on your property. This is a standard procedure to ensure the home remains with the recipient for a beneficial period. Recording this restriction incurs a nominal fee of $12.
- Understanding the Grant Repayment Schedule
- The grant provided for your home repairs is designed to be forgiving over time, encouraging long-term homeownership. Here’s how the repayment scale is structured based on how long you stay in your home after the repairs are completed:
- Up to 1 year: You would repay 100% of the grant.
- 1-2 years: You would repay 80% of the grant.
- 2-3 years: You would repay 60% of the grant.
- 3-4 years: You would repay 40% of the grant.
- 4-5 years: You would repay 20% of the grant.
- 5 years or more: The grant does not need to be repaid (ZERO repayment).
- The grant provided for your home repairs is designed to be forgiving over time, encouraging long-term homeownership. Here’s how the repayment scale is structured based on how long you stay in your home after the repairs are completed:
* This sliding scale is designed to support your commitment to your home and community by gradually reducing the repayment amount the longer you reside in your home after the repairs.
Apply Now!
Interested in applying or need more information about eligibility and the application process? Contact us to find out how to start your journey towards safer, more comfortable living in your own home.
Here are answers to the questions we hear most…
How do I apply?
What repairs does the program do?
- If you are a subcontractor interested in working with Knoxville Habitat on repairs for Seniors please visit our BidRoom
Why do you place a deed restriction on the home?
Hear From Homeowners
Ola | Critical Home Repair recipient
Cindy | Critical Home Repair recipient