Meeting the housing needs of low-income Tennesseans through partnerships has been a core value of the Tennessee Housing Development Agency since its creation in 1973.  THDA is committed to working with local communities and non-profit agencies to make decent, safe and affordable housing available to all residents of the State.

In 2006, the THDA Board of Directors voted to create the Housing Trust Fund to address the housing needs of the very low-income, the very low income elderly and the very low income special needs populations of Tennessee.  The Trust fund began with total allocations in FY 2007 and 2008 of $12 million in Agency funds, and $4 million appropriated to THDA by the State Legislature.  The combined FY 2007 and 2008 allocations to the Housing Trust Fund were used to fund $4 million for the Emergency Repair Program for the Elderly; $1.4 million for the USDA Rural Development Rural Repair Program; $300,000 for the Ramp Program for disabled persons; $300,000 for the THDA Homebuyer Education Reimbursement program, and $10 million in Competitive Grants.

The THDA Board of Directors approved an additional $6 million in Agency funds and the State Legislature appropriated $350,000 in FY 2009 for the Trust Fund.  THDA again allocated $2 million to the Emergency Repair Program for the Elderly; $700,000 to the USDA Rural Development for the rural repair program; and $150,000 to the ramp program for FY 2009.  THDA is seeking proposals for the remaining $3.5 million in FY 2009 funds from non-profit organizations, local governments, development districts, human resource agencies, public housing authorities and other departments within State government.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2008

• Program beneficiaries must be very low income households as defined by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the HOME program.
• Eligible housing activities are limited to rental and homeowership programs.
• Proposals must include a 50% match for the Housing Trust Funds.
• Applicants with 2007 Competitive Grants must be 50% drawn down by September 30, 2008 to be eligible to apply.
• There is no minimum or maximum grant amount.

The Competitive Grant Program Description and Application package is available at www.thda.org.  At the THDA website, click on COMMUNITY PROGRAMS for the link to the HTF Competitive Grants.  If you have questions, please call (615)815-2030.

For more information, you may contact Coralee Holloway, Director of Community Programs at (615) 815-2030.