Over the past 18 years, The Restoration House (TRH) has walked alongside 91 single-mother families on their journey to economic mobility and relational health, including relationships with God, self, others, and creation. Early with TRH, families begin planning for life after graduation, aspiring to transition either to market rent or homeownership. Unfortunately, rising housing costs have made this goal increasingly difficult.

Knox County is facing a severe housing crisis, marked by a significant shortage of affordable housing. According to East Tennessee Realtors, Knoxville’s metro area requires an estimated 22,000 additional dwelling units to meet demand. Since early 2020, effective rents in the Knoxville metro area have surged by 56%—an increase of $524, making it even harder for low-income families to secure stable housing.

TRH is developing a plan to create affordable homeownership opportunities for TRH graduates and other low-income families to address this urgent need. By partnering with Renaissance Creations as their development partner, they aim to build a mixed-income neighborhood that will provide sustainable, affordable housing options over the next decade.