Homeowner FAQ

How does Rebuilding Together choose which communities to serve?

The need for free home repairs is great and our resources (staff, funding, hours in the day!) are very limited. We determined that the communities in Greater Bordeaux have an above-average need for our services when compared to other areas of Nashville. Factors we considered when selecting this area included the number of senior and veteran homeowners, the value and age of homes, rates of homeownership, and average household income.

Why aren’t applications accepted year-round?

It is important to us to be honest with homeowners who need assistance; if we are not able to assist you soon we do not want to give you a sense of false hope by encouraging you to submit a full application. In the Spring of 2020 we had an overwhelming response for our services in the Greater Bordeaux community and we are currently hard at work processing those applications.

Why do you serve the populations that you serve?

One of Rebuilding Together’s primary goals is to help preserve affordable housing in Davidson County. Data shows that three out of five low-income homeowners are cost-burdened, meaning that those families pay more than 30% of their income to maintain their housing, leaving little room in their budgets for home repairs. Rebuilding Together wants to make sure that our most vulnerable neighbors – older adults, those living with disabilities and veterans – have the support they need to remain in their homes.

Who will complete work at my house if I’m selected to receive services?

Rebuilding Together works with professional contractors (sometimes paid and sometimes volunteer) as well as skilled and unskilled volunteer groups to complete projects. Volunteers are always supervised by an experienced and trained volunteer or staff member. 

What types of community partners and volunteers do you work with to complete home improvement projects? 

Most of Rebuilding Together’s funding currently comes through the Barnes Housing Trust Fund and grants through Rebuilding Together’s national office. We receive small grants and host volunteer groups from a variety of local business and civic partners, and local contractors sometimes support our work through in-kind donations of labor or materials. We have also partnered with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, MDHA and GNRC to complete projects. Click here to learn more about volunteering with us.  Click here to learn more about other ways to support our work.

How much do home improvement services cost?

Thanks to the generous support of our funders, homeowners do not pay anything to our agency for the repairs they receive. However, homeowners who receive services will be asked to sign a five-year, forgivable lien for the full value of home improvement services. If the homeowner or their heirs sell the home within five years of project completion, Rebuilding Together will be paid back in full from the proceeds from the home sale. We will reinvest that money in another project. This allows us to continue meeting our goal of preserving affordable housing in Nashville in the long term. You can read more about our lien process here.

Are there any home improvement services that Rebuilding Together does not provide?

Rebuilding Together is unable to complete repairs at homes with significant hoarding or clutter issues, significant pest control issues, serious water damage or mold contamination, intensive landscaping or tree removal needs, major foundation issues, extensive lead-based paint contamination or other hazardous materials, or evidence of drug use, criminal activity or mistreatment of animals. We reserve the right to decline any application that is beyond the agency’s scope of funding or expertise, that may expose staff or volunteers to dangerous conditions, or that Rebuilding Together deems unsuitable for any reason.

How does Rebuilding Together calculate income for eligibility purposes?

When you submit an application to Rebuilding Together , you must declare the income of every person who lives in your home, even extended family members and roommates. Whether a specific source of income will count toward your household income will depend on your specific living arrangement. In general, all income will be counted. Income includes wages from jobs, self-employment, Social Security payments, pension payments and any other regularly recurring source of funds in your household.

I co-own my house with someone else, but they don’t live here. Will I qualify for services?

When you fill out an application to Rebuilding Together, you must write in the name of any co-owner. Rebuilding Together will require some information from other property owners, whether or not they currently live in the home with you. You should inform any co-owners when you apply for services that we will need their cooperation to get your application approved.