applying for section 8 in Tennessee

How to Apply for Tennessee Section 8

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Tennessee Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program helps low income families living in the state of Tennessee find affordable housing through rental assistance provided by local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs). These agencies maintain a waiting list so that all the eligible applicants can be included for possible Section 8 rental assistance. Due to PHAs receiving too many applications, they don't entertain applications at all the times since they run out of funds. When new funds are made available, PHAs announce the opening of waiting list and applications are accepted for as long as the funds are available.

To have a higher chance of getting rental assistance through Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, applicants should try to submit applications for being on waiting list with as many PHAs as many possible.

Applicants eligible for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program will be able to find a house of their choice in the public housing market. Applicants can also find a subsidized Section 8 apartment. If an applicant is finding a house in public housing market, it will need to meet HUD's quality and safety housing requirements.

When you apply for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, your eligibility will be determined in order to ensure that you get a place on the waiting list. If you meet initial eligibility, you will be on the list. Once your name has come up, you will be called for an interview and determination of final eligibility. Once you've qualified, you will receive Housing Choice voucher.

When you apply for the program, you will need to provide full details of all the persons in the family. You will need to provide your address, phone number, and information about your current and previous landlords.

After you've received a Housing Choice Voucher through Tennessee Section 8 and you've found a house that meets HUD's guidelines, you will need to sign a contract of lease with the landlord. Tennessee Housing Development Authority (THDA) will also sign a contract with the landlord to provide the rental subsidy directly to the landlord.

Who can Qualify for Section 8?

Tennessee Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher is for low-income families. Here are eligibility requirements that you'll need to meet before you can qualify for the voucher.

  • Meet the definition of family: You will need to meet HUD's definition of family before you can quality for the program. A family can be either a single person or a group of people living together.

  • Meet income limits: In addition to meeting the definition of family, you'll also need to meet the income limits. HUD has established income limits according to the each state's median income level. HUD has provided three income limits i.e. low income limit and very low income limit. Low income limit is set at 80% of the state median income, very low income limit is set at 50% of the state median income level, and extremely low income limit is set at 30% of the are median income. HUD has instructions to distribute 75% of the vouchers to such extremely low income families to ensure that the program helps the most vulnerable first.

  • Meet the citizenship status: To receive Tennessee Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, you will need to provide documentation of your citizenship status. You must be a U.S citizen or a qualified alien to receive Tennessee Section 8 rental assistance.

  • Meet requirements for drug-related background: HUD requires applicants to be have a clear background in relation to drug-related eviction from public housing. This limitation is effective from three years from applicant files an application for Section 8.

How to Apply

To apply for Tennessee Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, you will need to follow these simple steps.

  1. Visit THDA's website to find out if there are any waiting lists open at this time. You can visit this page on THDA website (https://www.apply4housing.com/Tennessee/) to see if there are any waiting lists open.

  2. Apply for open waiting lists using this link (https://www.apply4housing.com/Tennessee/). Make sure you apply for as many counties as many you'd want. This will improve your chances to get Section 8 rental assistance since some countries may have short waiting lists compared to others.

  3. When you reach near top of any of these lists, you will receive a letter for eligibility determination.

  4. You can also contact your local PHA to find out the apply for the open waiting lists. Find contact details for your nearest local PHA using this link (http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/pha/contacts/states/tn.cfm).