The Tennessee Section 8 program, a division of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provides affordable housing options to eligible residents of the state. On behalf of HUD, a housing authority in Tennessee will qualify applicants, process applications and distribute housing vouchers in the local area. The TN Section 8 housing voucher program will pay up to 70 percent of a beneficiary’s monthly rental charges, leaving the remainder for the tenant to pay. Currently, low income house rentals in Tennessee are offered through tenant-based and project-based Section 8 programs.

While both TN Section 8 programs operate using the vouchers, there are differences between the two programs. The Section 8 project-based program generally has a longer waiting list, and the vouchers are tied to the low income housing unit. When a tenant moves from that Section 8 unit, the voucher does not move with them, as it is tied to the apartment itself. Tenant-based Section 8 housing programs tie the vouchers to the tenant, allowing the renter to move from one low income rental unit to the next.

Once a renter has located a low income housing unit in Tennessee, the housing authority works directly with the owner, or landlord, on a contract basis. The TN housing authority sends the voucher money directly to the landlord on the renter’s behalf. The Section 8 participant is responsible for getting the 30 percent, which is his or her portion of the rent, to the landlord on their own. New Section 8 beneficiaries who would like to remain in the unit that they are already occupying can do so if HUD or the local housing authority inspects the unit and certifies that it meets all necessary criteria to be included in the program.

Section 8 eligibility in Tennessee is based largely on income, and those applying must meet the guidelines for income in the local area. Eligible Section 8 applicants must earn no more than 80 percent of the median annual salary in the area where they are filing their application. Very low income considerations for Section 8 apply to those families who earn only 30-50 percent of the area’s annual median income.

Tennessee Section 8 currently has openings in many counties, but this is often subject to change. Most housing authorities in TN urge Section 8 applicants to apply in multiple counties in order to minimize the wait for an eligibility decision and adequate housing. To learn more about Section 8 housing in Tennessee, please refer to the following topics:

Learn the Requirements for Section 8 in Tennessee

Tennessee Section 8 eligibility qualifications are determined by the two groups responsible for managing the housing program. Section 8 is primarily managed by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), but HUD also works alongside local housing agencies that customize the program in order to serve the state’s residents. Both groups also work to answer common questions like, “What are the qualifications for low income housing in Tennessee?” In order to receive Section 8 housing assistance, applicants must meet minimum eligibility guidelines pertaining to income, citizenship and documentation.

Learn How to Apply for Section 8 in Tennessee

Learning how to sign up for Section 8 in Tennessee takes some time, but with some effort and persistence, applicants can receive access to affordable, quality housing. The process begins with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 8 application, which can be obtained through the local housing authority. Alternatively, the Tennessee online application for low income housing provides a convenient application option that can be accessed via computer and submitted electronically. All HUD Section 8 applications in TN require accompanying documentation that verifies the information supplied on the application. If the documentation is inaccurate or the HUD Section 8 application is incomplete, then the application stands a higher chance of being denied. Therefore, it is important to fill out the TN HUD Section 8 application completely, sign in all spaces provided and attach documentation for all members of the family.

Learn About Section 8 Waiting Lists in Tennessee

Tennessee Section 8 housing program application waiting lists were created for those who qualified for Section 8 housing, but for whom there were no available qualifying residences. Most of the low income housing waiting lists maintained by the the 95 counties in Tennessee are now closed, but this is always subject to change. Most Section 8 housing program application waiting lists in Tennessee have listed preferences for applicants. Section 8 candidate households that are in certain circumstances, such as being displaced by a natural disaster, or households with members that are elderly, veterans or persons with disabilities, may receive preference over other applicants. While more than 6,000 vouchers were recently issued, the demand for Section 8 currently exceeds the supply in TN cities with larger populations. To sort the low income housing waiting lists in many TN counties, the Public Housing Agency (PHA) will conduct a lottery. Those whose names are selected from the lottery will be notified.

Learn About Section 8 Denial in Tennessee

Tennessee Section 8 denial letters are received by Section 8 petitioners with applications that have been rejected by the Public Housing Agency (PHA). Section 8 housing disqualifications in Tennessee most often happen when information on the Section 8 application is incorrect or missing. Other TN Section 8 denial letters are sent because the applicant’s background, income or criminal history reports came back with disqualifying results. Regardless of the reason for the Section 8 denial letter, the specific reasons for the denial must be presented along with the denial letter so that the applicant has time to appeal the decision if he or she disagrees with the letter’s findings.