When the roof leaks or the floor gives way, older homeowners on a fixed income often can’t afford to fix it. Some may worry they’ll have to move in with family or leave the home they’ve lived in for years.
Habitat for Humanity of Jackson, Tennessee, runs an Aging in Place program to help older homeowners stay safe in their homes. It covers approved critical repairs for low-income homeowners age 60 and older in Madison and Haywood Counties.
Habitat pays for approved materials and labor, but homeowners must pay a small deed-recording fee and agree to certain grant conditions.
Here’s what the program covers, who qualifies, and how to get started.
What Repairs Does Aging in Place Cover?
The Habitat Jackson Aging in Place program focuses on repairs that make homes safer, more accessible, and easier for older adults to live in.
Depending on the home’s condition and the program’s available funding, repairs may include:
- Roof repairs or replacement
- Floor repairs and replacement
- Wheelchair ramps, railings, and steps
- Grab bars and bathroom accessibility changes
- Weatherization improvements
- Door and window repairs or replacement
Habitat also helps with other critical home repairs and mobility modifications when they meet program requirements.
Recent funding from Lowe’s, including a $102,000 grant announced in November 2025, has supported repairs such as roofing, flooring, accessibility improvements, and weatherization.
Not every home will qualify for every type of repair. Habitat inspects the property and determines which repairs are necessary and eligible.
What Does It Cost?
Habitat covers the materials and labor for approved Aging in Place repairs through a grant. However, the program is not completely free of costs or conditions.
According to Habitat Jackson’s official repair program information, homeowners must pay a fee to record a restriction on their property’s deed.
That recording fee usually costs $12 to $35, although it can be higher.
The grant also comes with a five-year deed restriction. If you sell or transfer your home before the five years are over, you may have to repay part of the grant.
Habitat forgives 20% of the grant each year. After five years, the grant is fully forgiven if you’ve met the program’s conditions.
This means you generally won’t pay for the approved repair work itself, but you should understand the deed restriction and recording fee before agreeing to participate.
Who Qualifies?
To qualify for Habitat Jackson’s Aging in Place program, you generally must:
- Be 60 years old or older.
- Own and live in your home full time.
- Live in Madison or Haywood County, Tennessee.
- Have a low household income, generally below 60% of the area median income (AMI).
- Own no additional property.
- Be current on your property taxes and mortgage, if applicable, or meet Habitat’s requirements for an acceptable payment arrangement.
Habitat may also ask for documents confirming your identity, household income, homeownership, and property taxes.
The organization uses income limits based on household size. You can review its published requirements on the official Aging in Place page, but ask Habitat to confirm the income limits currently being used before applying.
If you live in a condominium, mobile home, or another property that isn’t a detached single-family home, some repair services may not be available.
How Does It Work?
After you apply, Habitat reviews your eligibility and assesses the condition of your home.
Habitat inspectors visit the property to identify repair needs and prepare a list of recommended work. You’ll have an opportunity to explain what’s wrong and which problems are making your home unsafe or difficult to live in.
Habitat then determines which repairs it can approve based on the property’s condition, program requirements, and available resources.
Because the program has limited funding and capacity, qualifying doesn’t guarantee that repairs will be approved or completed immediately.
How Do I Apply?
Start by visiting Habitat for Humanity of Jackson’s Aging in Place page.
Contact the organization to ask whether applications are currently being accepted or whether you’ll need to join a waiting list.
Before applying, it’s helpful to gather:
- Proof of your age and identity
- Proof of household income
- Documents showing you own the home
- Property tax and mortgage information, if applicable
- A description of the repairs your home needs
Habitat may request additional documentation during its review.
Application opportunities can be limited, and applicants may be considered on a first-come, first-qualified, first-served basis. Having your documents ready can help you respond quickly when applications are available.
You should also ask Habitat to explain the five-year deed restriction, recording fee, and any repayment conditions before signing an agreement.
If this program isn’t available or your home needs repairs outside its scope, our guide to Tennessee home repair grants includes other resources worth exploring.
Relief Recap
Habitat for Humanity of Jackson’s Aging in Place program helps eligible homeowners age 60 and older in Madison and Haywood Counties, Tennessee, with critical repairs that can make their homes safer and more accessible.
Habitat covers approved repair materials and labor, but homeowners must pay a deed-recording fee, usually $12 to $35, and accept a five-year restriction on their property. Selling or transferring the home during that period may require partial repayment.
If you’re an older homeowner struggling with a leaking roof, unsafe floors, or accessibility problems, visit Habitat Jackson’s Aging in Place page to check the requirements and ask whether applications or a waiting list are available.
