Lawrence County HOME Grant: Transforming Lives Through Housing

$500,000 towards Affordable Housing

Lawrence County was awarded a 2024 HOME Grant totaling $500,000 in non-matching funds to support local families with critical housing needs. The South Central Tennessee Development District (SCTDD) partnered with Lawrence County Government to prepare the application, and the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) awarded the funding. Tia Lockridge, SCTDD Housing Director, serves as program administrator, overseeing the review of applications from residents in need of home rehabilitation or replacement.

Using a graded point system, funding is prioritized for households with the greatest need. Through this program, Lawrence County has already helped provide a new modular home to a veteran who said the assistance “changed his outlook on life.” The program has also provided a brand-new home for another family highlighted in this story, while a third family is receiving approximately $84,000 in major home renovations.

The goal of the HOME Grant is to bring homes up to safe living standards or replace them entirely when rehabilitation is no longer feasible. Any recipients of funding from the HOME Grant program is subject to a 15-year affordability period. During this time, the homeowner may not sell the property, and the home must remain their primary residence for the full 15-year term.

A Safe Home and a Fresh Start

Sometimes, a home can change everything.

When unexpected challenges left one Lawrence County family facing an uncertain future in a home that was no longer safe, the HOME Program provided a path forward.

The family’s previous home had deteriorated to the point that rehabilitation was no longer a viable option. Through HOME Grant funding, they were approved for a replacement home and have now received a brand-new residence. They are currently preparing to move in, and their former home is scheduled for demolition in the coming weeks.

Thanks to funding from THDA’s HOME Program, the family now has a safe, stable place to live and a fresh start for the future.

This project demonstrates the impact of the HOME Program in expanding access to safe, affordable housing while improving quality of life for Tennessee families and strengthening communities across the region.

A Regional Commitment to Housing

While this HOME Grant project is nearing completion in Lawrence County, SCTDD remains committed to serving all 13 counties in South Central Tennessee by helping communities pursue similar opportunities. Most recently, Tia Lockridge and the SCTDD Housing Department assisted seven municipalities in successfully submitting HOME Grant applications for the upcoming funding year, with the goal of extending this impact to even more families throughout the region.

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Media Contact:
Sydney Brewer, Marketing & Communications Director
sbrewer@sctdd.org