THDA program helps Hancock homeowner make repairs

For years, Heidi Taylor had to park her car at the bottom of a steep, curved driveway and walk up the hill to her home. Those muddy, and sometimes dangerous, walks are now a thing of the past thanks to the work of Clinch-Powell Resource Conservation and Development and funding from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency.

Taylor's home, located in Eidson, Tenn., was repaired with the help of THDA's Tennessee Renovation Loan Program (TRLP).

Taylor said she had lost any hope of having the repairs made to her home when she found out about the repair program through Clinch-Powell.

“I just gave up hope,” Taylor said. “I was just over the limit for a lot of the programs that could help, so I didn’t really have any hope. This program can be very beneficial to a lot of people. There are so many folks out there who are just like me, who thought there was no hope, or no help, and there is.”

Taylor, who works at a nonprofit in Hancock County, was able to have her driveway regraded and resurfaced, her roof repaired, and a new HVAC system installed, among other repairs.

Lindy Turner, Executive Director at Clinch-Powell said, “The program is needed to make repairs for homeowners who are not eligible to receive assistance from other resources”.

"It's helpful for people that have some debt, and might be on a fixed income," Turner said. "The fact that the grants available in the distressed counties are forgiven make this an affordable option for low-income families."

"Heidi works for a nonprofit in Hancock County, and she has dedicated much of her life to helping those who need it," Turner said. "We just think it's great to be able to help her out since she has done so much for others."