A broken heating system, a leaking roof, or a failing septic system could make your home unsafe. And when you’re living on a fixed income, paying thousands of dollars for emergency repairs might feel impossible.
If you own a home in Tennessee, there’s a program you should know about.
The Tennessee Emergency Repair Program (ERP) offers grants of up to $24,999 to help eligible low-income homeowners address serious health and safety problems.
The program serves homeowners who are 60 or older OR have a disability. That means younger homeowners with qualifying disabilities may also be eligible.
Even better, approved assistance is provided as a grant, not a loan. You wouldn’t have to repay the grant, and the program doesn’t place a lien on your home.
Here’s what the program covers, who may qualify, and how to find assistance in your county.
What Is Tennessee’s Emergency Repair Program?
The Emergency Repair Program is administered by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA).
It helps qualifying homeowners repair essential systems or serious structural problems that pose an immediate threat to their health, safety, or ability to remain in their homes.
The program receives approximately $2.7 million annually from the Tennessee Housing Trust Fund.
However, this isn’t a general home improvement program.
ERP focuses on urgent repairs that address dangerous conditions. It isn’t intended to pay for cosmetic upgrades, routine maintenance, or complete home renovations.
For example, a failing septic system that creates a health hazard may qualify, while replacing working kitchen cabinets simply because they’re outdated generally wouldn’t.
The goal is to help eligible homeowners continue living safely in their homes.
What Home Repairs May Be Covered?
THDA identifies several types of repairs that may qualify when they’re necessary to address an immediate health or safety concern.
Eligible repairs may include:
- Roof repairs or replacement: Addressing serious roof damage that threatens the safety or condition of the home.
- Electrical repairs: Fixing dangerous wiring or other electrical problems that create safety hazards.
- Plumbing repairs: Repairing serious plumbing problems that affect sanitation or safe living conditions.
- Septic system repairs: Addressing septic failures that create health or environmental hazards.
- Heating and air conditioning (HVAC): Repairing or replacing essential heating or cooling systems when their condition creates a qualifying safety concern.
- Floors and walls: Repairing structural damage that could make the home unsafe.
- Windows and doors: Replacing or repairing them when necessary to eliminate a health or safety threat.
- Accessibility improvements: Installing ramps or making other necessary modifications that help eligible homeowners with disabilities or age-related limitations use their homes safely.
Not every repair in these categories will automatically qualify.
The local agency administering the program must determine whether the problem meets ERP’s emergency repair requirements.
What Repairs Aren’t Covered?
ERP generally doesn’t cover ordinary remodeling or improvements that aren’t necessary to address an immediate health or safety threat.
For example, the program excludes appliances that aren’t permanently attached to the home, such as:
- Refrigerators
- Washing machines
- Clothes dryers
It also isn’t designed to pay for cosmetic renovations or upgrades simply to make a home look newer.
If you’re unsure whether a repair qualifies, your local ERP agency may be able to review the situation and explain the program’s requirements.
How Much Assistance Could You Receive?
The Emergency Repair Program has a maximum lifetime award of $24,999 per homeowner.
That means an eligible homeowner may receive up to $24,999 in qualifying emergency repairs over their lifetime.
However, $24,999 is the maximum, not a guaranteed award.
The amount of assistance depends on the repairs needed, program eligibility, available funding, and the local agency’s assessment.
For example, someone who needs a qualifying electrical repair costing $4,000 wouldn’t automatically receive the full $24,999.
The program is intended to cover approved emergency repair work rather than provide unrestricted cash.
Do You Have to Repay the Grant?
No.
According to THDA, ERP assistance is provided as a grant with:
- No repayment requirement
- No lien placed on the home
- No post-assistance compliance period
This is an important distinction from some home repair assistance programs that use deferred loans or require homeowners to repay assistance if they sell their property within a certain period.
ERP doesn’t impose those conditions on its grants.
However, applicants still need to meet the program’s eligibility requirements and receive approval before repairs are funded.
Who Qualifies for Tennessee’s Emergency Repair Program?
ERP serves low-income Tennessee homeowners who are at least 60 years old or have a disability.
Applicants must meet several additional requirements.
1. Be at Least 60 Years Old OR Have a Disability
You may qualify through either eligibility category:
- You’re 60 years old or older, or
- You have a qualifying disability.
You do not have to meet both conditions.
For example, a 65-year-old homeowner may qualify based on age, while a 45-year-old homeowner with a qualifying disability may qualify through the disability category.
Both would still need to meet the other program requirements.
2. Own and Live in Your Tennessee Home
The property must be your primary residence.
THDA also requires applicants to have lived in the home for at least three years before applying.
In addition, applicants must meet the program’s three-year ownership-interest requirement.
This means someone who recently purchased a home may not qualify, even if they meet the age or disability requirements.
If your ownership situation is unusual, such as inherited property or shared ownership, contact the local agency to ask how the requirement applies.
3. Meet the Income Requirements
ERP is intended for low-income homeowners.
THDA’s program guidance uses income limits based on household size and local area income levels, generally tied to 60% of the area median income (AMI).
Because income limits vary by location and household size, there isn’t one statewide dollar amount that applies to everyone.
Your local ERP agency can explain the current income limit for your county and the documentation needed to verify eligibility.
4. Meet Property Tax Requirements
THDA requires applicants to be current on local property taxes.
Program guidance also addresses homeowners who are following an approved property tax payment plan.
If you owe property taxes but have an active payment arrangement, ask your local agency whether your situation meets the program’s requirements.
Don’t assume you’re automatically disqualified without checking.
5. Have an Eligible Emergency Repair Need
The repair must address an essential system or serious structural condition that poses an immediate threat to health, safety, or life.
A local agency may need to inspect your home or review the proposed repair before deciding whether the work qualifies.
Meeting the age, disability, income, and homeownership requirements doesn’t guarantee approval if the repair itself isn’t eligible.
How to Apply for Tennessee’s Emergency Repair Program
You cannot apply directly to THDA for an ERP grant.
Instead, homeowners must work with the local agency that administers the Emergency Repair Program in their area.
THDA works with nine administering agencies across Tennessee.
These organizations help determine eligibility, review repair needs, and manage approved projects.
Step 1: Find Your Local ERP Agency
Start with the official Tennessee Housing Development Agency website.
Look for the Emergency Repair Program under THDA’s homeowner assistance programs.
Use the program’s agency information or contact THDA to identify the organization serving your county.
Because administration is regional, contacting the correct agency is important.
Step 2: Ask Whether Applications Are Being Accepted
Before gathering paperwork, ask your local agency whether ERP applications are currently open.
You could say:
“I’m a Tennessee homeowner, and I’m interested in the Emergency Repair Program. Are you currently accepting applications in my county?”
If applications aren’t being accepted, ask whether there’s a waiting list or when the agency expects to have additional funding.
Availability may vary depending on your county and the agency’s remaining resources.
Step 3: Ask What Documents You Need
The agency may request documents to verify your eligibility.
Depending on your circumstances, these could include:
- Proof of age or disability
- Proof of household income
- Documentation showing ownership of the home
- Proof that the property is your primary residence
- Property tax information
- Details about the emergency repair needed
The exact documentation requirements may vary.
Ask your agency for its current application checklist before submitting anything.
Step 4: Complete the Local Application Process
Once you know applications are available, follow your local agency’s instructions.
The agency may review your eligibility, assess the repair problem, and determine whether the project qualifies for funding.
Don’t assume a repair will be reimbursed if you arrange and pay for the work yourself before receiving approval.
Ask the agency how contractors are selected, when work may begin, and whether any costs would be your responsibility.
Are Applications Open Right Now?
There isn’t a single confirmed statewide application window published by THDA for all ERP agencies.
Some outside program directories have listed past deadlines or anticipated reopening dates, but those dates don’t establish whether applications are currently available.
Funding is limited, and local agencies may have different application schedules or temporarily stop accepting requests when their available funds are committed.
That’s why the safest approach is to contact the agency serving your county and ask about current availability.
If applications are closed, you may still be able to ask about future funding rounds or other home repair assistance programs.
What If You Don’t Qualify for ERP?
If your home needs repairs but you don’t meet ERP’s requirements, other assistance programs may be worth exploring.
For example, the USDA Section 504 Home Repair Program may offer loans or grants to eligible very-low-income rural homeowners.
Grants under that program are generally limited to qualifying homeowners age 62 or older and have additional requirements.
You can learn more through the USDA Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants program.
You may also want to ask your local community action agency about weatherization or other home repair resources.
These programs have separate eligibility rules and funding availability, so qualifying for one doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll qualify for another.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone younger than 60 qualify?
Yes, potentially. ERP also serves homeowners with qualifying disabilities. Applicants don’t have to be 60 or older if they qualify through the disability category.
Is the $24,999 grant guaranteed?
No. It’s the maximum lifetime amount. Actual assistance depends on eligibility, qualifying repair costs, and available funding.
Can the grant help replace a broken HVAC system?
Possibly. Heating and air conditioning repairs are among the eligible categories when the problem meets the program’s health and safety requirements.
Can ERP help with a failing septic system?
Yes, potentially. Septic system repairs are an eligible category when the failure creates a qualifying health or safety threat.
Will I have to repay the money if I sell my house?
THDA describes ERP assistance as a grant with no repayment requirement, no lien, and no compliance period.
Can I apply if I recently bought my home?
You may not qualify. THDA requires at least three years of residence and a qualifying ownership interest in the home.
Do I apply directly through THDA?
No. Applications are handled by the local ERP agency serving your county.
Relief Recap
Tennessee’s Emergency Repair Program may help eligible low-income homeowners pay for urgent repairs that make their homes safer.
The program offers up to $24,999 in lifetime grant assistance for qualifying repairs, including roofs, plumbing, septic systems, electrical problems, HVAC systems, structural issues, and certain accessibility improvements.
Homeowners must be 60 or older OR have a qualifying disability. They must also meet income, residency, ownership, property tax, and repair eligibility requirements.
The assistance is a grant, not a loan, so approved homeowners don’t have to repay it.
However, funding and application availability may vary by region.
If your home has a serious safety problem, the next step is to contact the local ERP agency serving your Tennessee county to find out whether applications are being accepted and what assistance may be available.
For more programs that could help with housing expenses, repairs, and other needs, explore our Tennessee assistance resources.
