Empowering first-generation homeownership in West Tennessee
Rise Up Program
Rise Up is a down payment assistance program that provides $25,000 grants to first-time, first-generation homebuyers.
The program is administered by United Housing and funded by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati (FHLB) to expand access to homeownership across West Tennessee.
Whether you’re a participating FHLB Member Bank or a potential homebuyer, this page will help you understand the program, access the application process and find the documents you need to get started.
Overview
Grant Amount: $25,000
Purpose: Down payment, closing costs or principal reduction
Available In: Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Shelby, Tipton and Weakly Counties in Tennessee
Who Applies: An FHLB Member Bank applies on behalf of the homebuyer
Availability: First-come, first-served (launching August 2025)
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To receive Rise Up funding, homebuyers must:
Be a first-time, first-generation homebuyer in the United States.
First-time: Not owned a home in the past 3 years
First-generation: Parents/guardians have never owned a home OR buyer was in the foster care system
Have household income at or below 120% of the HUD MTSP income limit for their county
Complete a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. United Housing provides in-person options in Shelby County and virtual opportunities for anyone across the state. You can learn about upcoming classes here.
Contribute at least $500 of their own funds toward the purchase
Purchase an eligible primary residence (single-family, townhome, condo, or 2–4 unit property)
See Information for Homebuyers (PDF) for more.
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Eligible Properties Must:
Be located in one of the 21 West Tennessee Counties listed in this section or within this document.
If you live in East Tennessee or Kentucky, visit FAHE’s website to access the Rise Up Program.
Serve as the buyer’s primary residence
Be attached to a permanent foundation and taxed as real estate
Include the required retention agreement in the deed, enforceable for 5 years
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All homes purchased with Rise Up funds must remain the homeowner’s primary residence for 5 years. If sold, transferred, or refinanced before that, some or all funds may need to be repaid unless an exception applies.
To request payoff documentation, see the Subsidy Payoff Request Form and Retention Guidelines.
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General Information:
For FHLB Member Institutions:
**FHLB Member Banks should reach out to United Housing at riseup@uhinc.org to request a secure link by which to upload all required documents for any new reservation requests in their service area; please do not email documents to United Housing.
For Closing Agents:
For Homebuyers:
How to apply
All applications must be processed through a mortgage lending officer at a bank or financial institution that is a member of FHLB Cincinnati.
If you’re a prospective homebuyer who is interested in the Rise Up Program, start by finding a member lender near you.
Find an FHLB Cincinnati Member Bank by clicking the link below and searching for the bank closest to you.
Start a mortgage application through an FHLB Member and follow their process.
Take a Homebuyer Education Course with a HUD-certified partner, like United Housing. You can see our upcoming in-person and virtual classes here.
Not ready to get started, but want to know what you’ll need to apply? View our Checklist for Reservation Requests for a list of required materials.
Want to learn more?
This FHLB webinar explains everything you need to know about the program.
Contact us
If you’re a lender at an FHLB Cincinnati member institution with questions, reach out to us today using this form or by emailing riseup@uhinc.org.
If you’re an individual interested in the Rise Up Program, the first step toward enrolling is to connect with a financial partner. You can do that by clicking the button below and searching for the institution nearest you.