Creative Programs
Building Homes
We believe everyone deserves a place to call home. Since 1989, we have been building modest, high-quality homes for low-income buyers in Cumberland and surrounding counties, driving local economic development.
How It Works:
Quality Construction: Our homes are built by local licensed and insured subcontractors, overseen by our on-staff licensed General Contractor.
Affordable Purchasing: Homes are sold at appraised value. To bridge financing gaps, we frequently provide significant down payment assistance and contribute to closing costs.
Safe Financing: Buyers must have decent credit and sufficient income for a mortgage. Most utilize the USDA Rural Development 502 Direct program, which offers 100% financing with safe, non-predatory terms.
Mortgage Loans
We are a certified Mortgage Loan Packager Agency Partner with USDA Rural Development in Tennessee. This means we are able to help low-income rural Tennesseans apply for a mortgage pre-approval so they may purchase a home with USDA’s 502 Direct mortgage loan program. This program has the following features:
- For homebuyers in rural areas only
- Fixed interest rate over 33 years
- No prepayment penalties
- USDA program information link – click here
To get started, click Apply to fill out and submit a mortgage pre-application directly to us, or call to obtain a mortgage application. We will review your basic information to begin building a mortgage application package and contact you for further details.
Home Repair
We believe that homeownership is a major asset to low-income households. Maintaining our area’s existing housing stock positively impacts community economic development. Because of this, we provide very-low and low-income homeowners the opportunity to keep their homes repaired and safe to inhabit.
Since 2009, we have secured home repair grants from various sources for homeowners and helped them apply for low-interest repair loans through USDA’s 504 repair program. This keeps their home’s value up and also maintains the home for the current owners and future homebuying generations.
Aging in Place
We believe that staying in your home as you age should be a safe and realistic option for individuals and families in Cumberland and surrounding counties. Many homes, however, were not originally designed with long-term accessibility in mind. Because of this, we are expanding our efforts to focus more intentionally on aging in place. Our Aging in Place work centers around practical home modifications that improve safety, accessibility, and everyday functionality. This may include updates such as improved lighting, bathroom safety features, accessibility ramps, and other adjustments that allow homeowners to remain independent longer. This initiative is guided by a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) and builds on our existing home repair efforts, which have helped local homeowners maintain safe and livable housing since 2009.
As we continue to grow this area of our work, we are focused on identifying the most common challenges homeowners face and responding with practical, accessible solutions. Our aim is to make aging in place feel less overwhelming and more achievable.
Rental Deposit Grants for Homeless Veterans
Contacted by our local VA housing division, we began this program in 2023 to address a barrier to homeless veterans in Cumberland and surrounding counties. When a homeless veteran is working with the local VA office to secure long-term housing payment assistance through a Section 8 voucher and has located a safe place to rent, their only barrier remaining is often the $1,500 – $2,000 cost of rent deposit fees to be paid up front at lease signing.
Our program pays these rent deposit fees on behalf of the veteran as a one-time gift. This small bit of help transitions the veteran out of homelessness and gives him or her a true chance to “get back on their feet” in life. This is a true grassroots program as it is solely funded through an annual 5K fundraiser and local donations.
Michael Smathers Memorial Scholarship Fund
We recognize the importance of investing in students entering residential building trade programs. In honor of our Founder Michael (Mike) Smathers, we offer a scholarship to local students attending the Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Upper Cumberland (TCAT-UC). Mike was a skilled tradesmen in residential construction, so we honor his legacy by offering funding for higher education skilled learning to students in the building trade programs. Interested students should apply directly with TCAT-UC.
To learn more about Mike’s legacy, please visit the page about Our Founder by clicking here.
Donate directly to this scholarship:
