Housing SewaneeBuilding Homes Together
Two volunteers measuring a panel of siding at a Housing Sewanee build site

Sewanee, Tennessee · Since 1993

Building homes together.

At Housing Sewanee Inc. we are a group of dedicated volunteers who work with community partners to build homes together. Partners help build their homes, creating sweat equity. HSI raises funds for building materials which helps with the building process. Join us with your gifts of talent and financial resources.

Apply for a home →
1993Founded
20Homes built
0%Interest loans

About HSI

Fine, quality homes, built by neighbors.

Housing Sewanee, Inc. was founded in 1993 and modeled after Habitat for Humanity shortly after the visit of its inspirational founder, Millard Fuller.

Since then, the organization has built 20 houses, working with families, providing no-interest loans and financial counseling, and marshaling volunteers who gladly and energetically help with the construction of fine, quality homes. Currently, HSI is building an energy-efficient home on Sherwood Road in a new development called Sherwood Spring.

The Sherwood Spring project provides an opportunity to think with families not only about the cost of building a house but also the cost of operating a house. As much as possible, the development will have shared infrastructure and will feature advanced HVAC, superb insulation, and energy-efficient design. The first home was completed in December of 2019, as well as the second home. These houses employ several energy-saving techniques. Currently, numerous volunteers are working on the construction of the third house which will be done in a couple of months.

Next door is a small structure that operates as an educational building of cost-saving energy systems, equipped with a live model, information posters, screens of live data collection, and visual equipment. Tours are available.

A volunteer caulking a window frame on a Sherwood Spring house

Projects

See HSI at work

A look inside Housing Sewanee and the energy-efficient homes we build together in Sherwood Spring.

Leadership

Our Board

Bruce BairdPresident
Jay FisherVice President
S. Dixon MyersDesign & Construction Manager
Michelle ThibodeauxSecretary
Bentley CookTreasurer
Julie PowellBoard Member
Alec MoseleyBoard Member
Andy ThompsonBoard Member
Chris LancasterBoard Member
Rob MatlockBoard Member
Bill MauzyBoard Member
Work boots on a scaffold plank inside a house frame
Partners help build their homes, creating sweat equity.

Application Process

How a home comes together

Questions about applying? Email applications@housingsewaneeinc.com.

2

Application Review

Applications are reviewed by the application committee and a new client is selected by the HSI board.

A client is selected based on the application, displayed needs, and the proven ability to meet home ownership costs.

3

Moving In

Upon completion of the house, the individual/family assumes responsibility for interest free mortgage payments or lease-purchase payments.

The homeowner assumes all responsibility for utilities, maintenance and other expenses.

Apply Now

Ready to build your home with us?

Fill out the HSI Application Form online. If you need assistance, email applications@housingsewaneeinc.com.

Start Application →
A group of smiling HSI volunteers

Demonstration Building

See how an efficient home works

Housing Sewanee’s demonstration building was created in 2021 to educate the community on the systems used when building houses.

The extra measures put in place conserve energy and ensure the longevity of each home. Recipients benefit from lower monthly bills because of the environmentally friendly systems that source water and energy locally. Further, strong insulation and cooling systems lower costs by allowing less heat to be released, especially in the winter months.

The demonstration building is home to a functioning model of these systems, along with posters that explain how each one works.

Request a tour
Volunteers building the HSI demonstration building in the woods

Contact Us

Get in touch

Want to volunteer, tour the demonstration building, or learn more? We’d love to hear from you.

Email

hello@housingsewaneeinc.com

Applications

applications@housingsewaneeinc.com

Mailing address

Housing Sewanee, Inc.
PO Box 3152
Sewanee, TN 37375