Families & individuals
Looking for a home where your loved one can grow, make choices, and be part of the community?
Find supportFamily Model Residential Support · Knoxville, TN
A place to belong, in a real home.
Hands In Unity helps adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities live in the home of a trained, caring Family Model Provider, with their own choices, their own routines, and a local team behind them.
Prefer to talk? 865-659-8279
Up to 3 people
per home
per home
Regular visits
& check-ins
& check-ins
Licensed and contractedTennessee Department of Disability and Aging (DDA, formerly DIDD)
HCBS rights come firstPrivacy, choice, and community life
Small by designNo more than 3 people per home
Your privacy mattersWe never ask for medical details on public forms. Privacy
Start here
How can we help you today?
Future Family Model Providers
Have room in your home and your life? Learn what it takes and how we support you.
Become an FMPSupport coordinators & partners
Refer someone who may be a good fit for Family Model services. We’ll follow up with you.
Make a referralPlain-language guide
What is Family Model?
Family Model is a way of living where an adult with a disability moves into the home of a trained caregiver, someone who isn’t a relative, and shares everyday family life.
A real home
The caregiver’s own house or apartment, not a facility. The person has their own space and privacy.
Small by design
No more than 3 people receiving services live in any one home.
Our support
We recruit, screen, and train every caregiver, and we’re a phone call away when questions come up.
Regular visits
Our team calls and visits the home regularly, both scheduled and unannounced.
How it works
Three simple steps
1
Connect
Call us or send a short form. We’ll talk about what matters most.
2
Match
Meet caregivers and visit homes. The person chooses where to live.
3
Move in, with support
We plan the move together, then keep calling and visiting.
In their words
Stories from our community
Hands in unity is a wonderful organization for our intellectual adults! Safe, loving and the best part is the Christian base. You will not go wrong with Hands in unity! The owners are amazing people and always there to help! They are a blessing to have met.
Kelcey D.
such a blessing for me! wonderful people!!
Miranda B.
Great place to work & Christians ones to be around. Hands In Unity is such a blessing to our family.
Shelia B.
Become a Family Model Provider
Have room in your home, and your heart?
Share your everyday life with an adult who needs a family setting. We’ll train you, support you, and be a phone call away.
News & Resources
Updates for families and providers
Helpful news, reminders, and community events, also shared on our Facebook page (opens in a new tab).
Have you thought about opening your home?
Family Model Providers share their own home with an adult who needs a family setting. We walk you through every step.
New citizenship and immigration eligibility rules
Rules changed Oct 1, 2026 for some TennCare programs. Open every TennCare letter and call TennCare Connect at 855-259-0701 with questions.
DDA regional office open houses
Middle TN on Fri, Nov 13 and East TN on Fri, Nov 20. Both are open houses with RSVP links.