NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 21, 2026 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Tennessee State Director Patrick Jaynes today announced the state office has $3 million available in grant funding to provide relief to homeowners affected by Hurricane Helene.
“These grant funds are a valuable financial resource for a large number of Tennessee homeowners residing in counties that were most affected by Hurricane Helene,” said Jaynes. “Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has made it clear that USDA is ready and able to help our rural communities thrive in every way, especially when it’s needed most.”
Disaster Assistance Fund money is available to assist homeowners in designated counties to make needed repairs to their homes that were damaged by Hurricane Helene. Homeowners residing in the following counties may be eligible for this grant funding: Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi or Washington.
Up to $44,000 per applicant is available to income-eligible homeowners to address repairs that FEMA or insurance funding did not cover. If the qualified homeowner made home repairs specific to the storm damage, they may be eligible to be reimbursed for those repairs.
USDA Rural Development has partnered with several non-profit agencies to assist in helping homeowners to quickly access these funds. All interested homeowners in these counties can obtain information on how to apply by contacting USDA staff at sm.rd.tn.sfhdirect@usda.gov.
USDA Rural Development invests in rural America with programs to promote rural prosperity. These programs expand access to high-speed internet, electricity, and transportation infrastructure, and support economic growth, healthcare, education, housing, and other community essentials. Discover more investment details and historical data in the Rural Data Gateway and learn more about the agency at www.rd.usda.gov.
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