Chattanooga Nonprofit Building Affordable Modular Homes for Working Families

Chattanooga, TN (WDEF)- Owning a home is becoming harder for many working families, but Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE) is working to change that.

CNE Homes, a subsidiary of the nonprofit, is developing affordable, move-in-ready modular houses designed for families earning around $85,000 a year. The goal, leaders say, is to create homes people can purchase without government subsidies — while still keeping them within reach of working households.

“Our hope is that as we perfect this process, when limited subsidy dollars are available, those homes will become even more affordable,” said Jenny Hill, project manager with CNE Homes.

The builder behind the project, Lynn Adams, explained that modular construction is a key part of the plan.

“We’re working towards trying to incorporate modular homes into the Chattanooga area,” Adams said. “This home was built in four sections, transported here, and then finished on site. The ultimate goal is to combine traditional stick-built homes with modular construction and introduce that mix into the neighborhood.”

The home previewed this week is not yet open to the public, but organizers say the demand is already there.

“We are planning on building two more prototypes and learning just as much as we can before we start putting them on the market,” Hill said. “I’ve had a lot of people reach out with interest because we know there’s such a market for this. As soon as we’re ready to start selling them, we will shout it from the roof.”

CNE leaders say the broader mission is clear: provide high-quality homes that give working families the chance to build stability and equity in Chattanooga.