Section 8 Housing in Tennessee

Low Income Housing Information

Low income housing can be a godsend, but if you don't know how to apply, or who to get your information to, how can you ever expect to be approved?

Since laws and procedure vary from state to state, you'll need to learn a few specifics before applying. We can help!

Is Section 8 Housing Offered in Tennessee?

For many years, Tennessee was behind the curve in providing affordable housing options to its residents, but this has changed radically today. Today the state plays and active role in developing affordable housing options and helping people in need of housing assistance find the help they need. In fact, today the website of the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA, www.thda.org), provides a more comprehensive resource for people seeking housing assistance in the state than any other. In fact, in something of a rarity, new applicants can apply for subsidized housing directly through the THDA website to any jurisdiction in the state without having to go through the local public housing authority (PHA), at least at first.

Like most such state housing agencies, the THDA places a heavy emphasis on helping low income people purchase homes, but they also play a very active role in renter's assistance programs as well. Again, as something of a rarity, the THDA has a Division of Program Compliance that actively monitors and oversees Section 8 properties - especially project-based ones - to ensure that everything meets the federal compliance standards. This helps eliminate many of the abuses that are found in jurisdictions where all inspection and compliance concerns are addressed exclusively by the local PHA, which frequently lacks the time and resources to devote enough attention to the issue.

The THDA is by far the first place that anyone looking for Section 8 housing - or any other housing subsidy program - in Tennessee should visit to see what is available. However, there are always some non-governmental programs that may also be helpful and in many cases these are only available locally, so it can pay to visit the local PHA in the area in question, especially if it is a more urban area. Many programs administered by local non-governmental organizations or charitable organizations are not actively advertised, but are known by the local PHAs. This can be particularly helpful if the person looking for subsidized housing falls into a "special interest" groups like veterans, single mothers with children, or senior citizens. Not surprisingly, the THDA website provides a comprehensive list of all official PHAs in Tennessee, so again this website may be the best first stop.

Although much of the Section 8 housing available in Tennessee is project-based, or linked to the housing unit instead of the beneficiary, Tennessee has also readily accepted the tenant-based Section 8 model, also known as the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. Unlike most states, where HCV is administered directly by the local PHA, in Tennessee the THDA has taken over this role in much of the state (in seventy-five counties). This makes HCV considerably more viable since if one gets approved for HCV by the THDA, it is likely to transfer to other jurisdictions as long as the change does not reflect a major change in circumstances. Remember that all Section 8 housing - project-based or tenant-based - operates on a means test where the applicant's annual income is weighed against the locality's median annual income as determined by HUD. Therefore, changing HUD-defined jurisdictions is bound to make an impact on one's qualifying status regardless of getting HCV approval and certification from the THDA.