Habitat for Humanity - Knoxville

Knoxville Habitat for Humanity partners with local low-income families to help them build a place they can call home. Families who partner with Knoxville Habitat earn 80% or less than the area median income. With the help of volunteers and under the leadership of Knoxville Habitat, the partner family completes homeowner education and builds a home. Once completed, the family purchases the home at an affordable amount with a 30-year, 0%-interest mortgage. All parties work together to help local families build the strength, stability and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and their families.

Every purchase creates an opportunity for a better life. The Knoxville Habitat for Humanity restore accepts donations of new and used furniture, clothing, household items, building materials, appliances and more and offers these items for sale to the public at a fraction of the retail price. Tax-deductible donations are accepted at the restore, or donors may arrange for a scheduled pick up for larger items. Highly desirable items are made available for sale to the public, and proceeds from sales help support the mission and work of Knoxville Habitat for Humanity.

Partner families complete 300 hours of "sweat equity" (homeowner education) to build and purchase their affordable home. Knoxville Habitat for Humanity provides more than 200 homeowner education classes each year. Classes are offered on multiple days of the week and at varying times to accommodate shift workers. In addition to weekly budgeting classes, the curriculum also includes topics such as: telling your story, orientation 1 & 2, home maintenance, energy efficiency, nutrition and food budgets, good neighbor 1 & 2, house construction and purchase agreements, and a wills clinic. Our family services staff work with families between classes to help them address needs and navigate deadlines. Knoxville Habitat has a 96.7% homeownership success rate that is greatly due to the outstanding 9 to 18-month homeowner education and family support program.