Community Development

Using grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Community Development is dedicated to the revitalization of low-to-moderate income neighborhoods and the economic improvement of its residents. The department funds affordable housing initiatives, employment and business assistance, public facility and infrastructure improvements, and social services to assist the community as a whole.

Find out more about our public announcements and other Community Development news!

Your input is needed!

How do you see your community in the next 5 years?

The City’s Five-Year Consolidated Plan process has begun. The plan will set out the objectives and focus for the use of federal grant funding awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanding economic opportunities for low to moderate-income residents. Read more about the upcoming 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan.

Join the conversation! The next public meeting is detailed below:

Saturday, February 1st
10:00 - 11:30 AM
Consolidated Plan Update Meeting
Shepherd YFD Center
2124 Shepherd Road

Are you unable to attend any of the meetings? You can still share your opinion by taking our survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/inputconsolidatedhousing

For more information, contact Lindsey Garland at (423) 643-7330 or lgarland@chattanooga.gov.

Draft Analysis of Impediments to Fair

Housing Choice Report

The draft Analysis of the Impediments to Fair Housing Choice Report is now available for review and comment. Please check out the Analysis of Impediments Part 1 and Analysis of Impediments Part 2 and submit any comments. The meeting PowerPoint slides are posted for your convenience.

Appendix A: Census Tract Maps for reference

Comments will be taken through January 10, 2020, and can be submitted in writing through the following ways:

email: comdev@chattanooga.gov

mail: Regina Partap, 101 E. 11th Street, City Hall, Suite 200, Chattanooga, TN 37402

Grant Funding Opportunities:

Preservation and Production of Affordable Housing 

Through the following programs, the Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD) seeks partners to work within the preservation and production of affordable rental and owner-occupied housing units in the city.

The City accepts applications from qualified entities to produce and or preserve affordable housing using funding the City receives from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which include: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership Act (HOME), and Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) grant funds.

Funding for a project can range from $12,000 to $40,000 per unit. All assisted projects must serve households meeting income eligibility guidelines and be located within the city limits of Chattanooga.

There is no application deadline. Applications for funding are accepted on a rolling basis and funds awarded on a first come first served basis until all grant funds are allocated.

Visit our applications & guidelines page for more information!

HOME Affordable Housing Program

This program is for for-profit and non-profit developers who wish to develop or preserve affordable housing. Maximum grant funding not to exceed $40,000 per unit. 

Minor Home Repair Program

This program is designed to assist homeowners with minor home repairs who live inside the Chattanooga City limits. These repairs are completed through partnerships with selected non-profit organizations at no cost to the applicant. However, repairs are subject to approval by the City of Chattanooga, partnering agencies, and available funding. 

Landlord Renovation Program

This program assists landlords with the renovation of vacant, substandard rental units. Landlords can receive a grant to cover 50% of renovation costs, up to $15,000. Actual amount depends upon the number of bedrooms and cost of renovation.

Chattanooga Lead Safe and Healthy Homes Grant

The City of Chattanooga Office of Community Development administers a Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Program that provides grant funding to prevent Childhood Lead Poisoning and improve health and safety conditions for low (owner-occupied homes) and very-low (landlord owned/tenant occupied homes) income families residing in homes built prior to 1978, within the City of Chattanooga zip codes. Homeowners, tenants in rental units, and rental property owners can apply.

Housing Resources:

Fair Housing Program

Learn more about the Fair Housing Program, objectives and goals, activities, how to file a complaint, and contact info.

Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act

Find out more about tenant and landlords laws in Tennessee.

RentWise (in English)

Rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants in Hamilton County

Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise

CNE provides homebuyer down payment assistance, homeowner rehabilitation loans, and housing counselling.

Chattanooga Community Housing Development Organization (CCHDO)

CCHDO provides newly constructed affordable homes, affordable rental units, and roofing repair. Learn more about their roofing program.

Chattanooga Housing Authority

Chattanooga Housing Authority administers the Section 8 Program and maintains a list of affordable rental units.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat provides newly constructed affordable homes and homeowner rehabilitation.

Housing Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Program

The Residential PILOT Program is a financial incentive, which is designed to encourage multi-family rental development by freezing property taxes at the predevelopment level for a predetermined period of time.

2018 PILOT Application

Review the Scoring for the PILOT Program Application