Tennessee Community Action Agencies (Utility & Emergency Help)
Last updated August 2026
Behind on a power bill? Your community action agency is the door to knock on. Tennessee has 19 of these agencies, and they cover all 95 counties. They take LIHEAP applications. They run the free home repair program. Many hold their own emergency utility funds too. Find yours at tncommunityaction.org, or dial 2-1-1.
One call can line up several kinds of help at once. The same worker who files your LIHEAP can check their own emergency fund. They can put your home on the repair list too. So tell them your whole story. They may know a fund you have never heard of.
What each agency offers depends on the money it has right now. Each one sets its own rules from its current funding. Getting turned down for one program does not mean you fail them all. Ask what is open this week. Ask again next month if you need to.
Come prepared and the visit goes fast. The agency needs your account number, a recent bill, proof of income, and who lives with you. Gather that first, and the worker can screen you for several programs in one sitting.
For the full LIHEAP walkthrough and checklist, see our LIHEAP Energy Assistance page. The statewide form at thda.org/liheap is the same one your agency uses. If the agency cannot help this week, dial 2-1-1. It tracks the church and charity funds that agencies do not run.
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Low-income Tennessee households; each agency sets its own program mix and income rules based on the funding it has
- Agencies often help with a past-due utility bill, energy costs, and referrals; contact your local agency to see what is open right now
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Find your county's agency at tncommunityaction.org, or dial 2-1-1 and ask.
- 2
Call before you visit. Ask what help is open right now, and what to bring.
- 3
Tell the worker everything: the shut-off notice, who lives with you, your income, any disability, kids' ages. Each fact can open another program.
- 4
Ask them to file your LIHEAP and check their own emergency funds in the same visit.
- 5
Ask about the free home repair program while you are there. Getting LIHEAP puts your home on that list with no extra income paperwork.
- 6
Turned away? Ask when new funding comes. Call 2-1-1 for church and local funds in the meantime.
What to have ready
- A recent utility bill with your account number
- Proof of income for everyone in the home
- Photo ID, and your shut-off notice if you have one
- Your agency confirms its exact list when you call.
What the application looks like
Common questions
What do Tennessee community action agencies do?
They are the local offices for power bill help, LIHEAP, free home energy repairs, and other emergency aid. Nineteen agencies cover all 95 Tennessee counties.
How do I find my local community action agency?
Look up your county at tncommunityaction.org, or dial 2-1-1 and ask.
Can a community action agency pay my power bill?
Often yes, through LIHEAP or the agency's own emergency funds. Bring a recent bill and proof of income. Ask what is open right now.
Who qualifies for community action help?
Low-income Tennessee households. Each agency sets its own rules from its current funding. So the answer can differ by county and by month. Call yours and ask.
What's the difference between the agency and LIHEAP?
LIHEAP is one statewide program. The agencies deliver it locally. They also run the free repair program and often hold separate emergency funds with different rules. So a LIHEAP denial is not the end of the road.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
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