Homeowner Support — Rebuilding Together Nashville

With fixed incomes and competing priorities, many older adults have unaddressed personal needs that go well beyond critical home repairs.

At RTN, our specialty is safe and healthy home repairs - but we know that a safe home is only one part of the equation. We work with public and private partners around Nashville specializing in holistic health, food access, financial security, and energy cost burden to connect our homeowners with the resources they need to thrive.

Healthcare

RTN partners with Vanderbilt University School of Nursing to bring practical, neighbor-centered health support to residents in our target communities. Since 2021, nursing students have worked alongside homeowners to identify needs through community-informed surveys and conversations, then respond with targeted support, including resource fairs and small-group sessions. This work helps connect older adults to tools and trusted partners for mental health, caregiver support, and navigating today’s health systems, such as digital portals and changing insurance landscapes.

Food Access

When homeowners tell us food is a challenge, RTN can connect them to reliable, dignified support. As a referral partner for The Store, RTN can directly refer eligible homeowners so they can enroll as shoppers without going through the typical application and waitlist process. RTN has also collaborated with partners like Second Harvest Food Bank to bring mobile pantry distributions to our neighborhoods, helping older residents stretch tight budgets and keep nutritious food on the table.

Financial Security

RTN helps older adults access resources that protect long-term stability and reduce monthly burdens. Through partnerships with Belmont Law School, we’ve hosted free estate planning clinics so homeowners can complete a basic will at no cost. RTN also connects homeowners to programs that can lower expenses and prevent financial shocks. This includes everything from community solar credits that reduce energy bills to scam-prevention education and property tax relief options, through partners like AgeWell and the Metropolitan Trustee’s Office.