Our Story

Since our inception in 1985, Knoxville Habitat for Humanity has been at the forefront of addressing affordable housing in our community.

What started as a humble mission to provide decent, affordable homes has grown into a significant force for change, directly impacting over 1,500 families in Knoxville. Our journey from renovating single homes to developing entire neighborhoods marks our evolution and our commitment to not just building houses, but fostering communities.

Knoxville Habitat for Humanity partners with qualifying families to provide solutions to the housing crisis.

We offer a way for families to own or remain in their homes and focus on the things that matter — like education, health, and family.

Our Impact

With nearly 650 homes built, we’ve not only provided shelter but also a foundation for families to thrive. Beyond construction, our homeowner education programs offer crucial knowledge in financial literacy and home maintenance, empowering our partners to build a stable future. Our ReStore outlets support this mission by recycling overstocked, seconds, used, discontinued items, and surplus building materials donated by manufacturers, stores, contractors, and individuals.

Habitat’s model creates a cycle of community investment.

We’re putting home mortgage payments to work building more homes.

Habitat provides three distinct services in the homeownership process: home construction, mortgage financing, and mortgage servicing. And, when Habitat homeowners make payments on their affordable mortgage, they are helping to fund the construction of more Habitat homes.

Identify

Identify and acquire land for affordable housing communities, through donation or partnership.

Build

Build homes through homeowner “sweat equity” and hard work contributed by Knoxville Habitat’s over 3,000 annual volunteers.

Sell

Sell the homes to qualified buyers at a price they can afford, through a long-term mortgage.

Reinvest

Reinvest mortgage payments back into Knoxville Habitat’s programs to serve more local families.

Our Programs

First-Time Homebuyer

Partnering with families to build affordable homes through sweat equity and no-profit, no-interest mortgages.

Critical Home Repair Program

Aimed at helping low-income homeowners make necessary repairs to ensure their homes are safe, accessible, and energy-efficient. This program addresses significant home repair needs that affect the health and safety of the occupants, ensuring they can live in their homes for years to come.

The ReStore

A sustainable funding initiative that sells donated goods to support our programs.

Education and Empowerment

Offering workshops on financial preparedness, home maintenance, and personal development for future homeowners.

Our Vision for the Future

As we look ahead, Knoxville Habitat for Humanity is driven by the vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. We are committed to expanding our reach, innovating our programs, and strengthening our community partnerships to meet the growing need for affordable housing in Knoxville. Join us as we build homes, communities, and hope.