Affordable Housing in Nashville, TN

This page collects the specific programs, agencies, phone numbers, and rules that apply in Nashville and Davidson County — not generic Section 8 advice. Nashville has two notable local features worth knowing about: the Eviction Right to Counsel program, which gives eligible tenants facing eviction a free lawyer, and the L.E.G.A.C.Y. Housing Resource Diversionary Court. The named resources below are where to start.

Emergency Help Tonight in Nashville

If you need a safe place to sleep tonight or are facing an imminent eviction, these are the local resources to contact first:

• Nashville Rescue Mission — Nashville's largest emergency shelter with separate campuses for men and for women+children. nashvillerescuemission.org
• Room In The Inn — winter overflow shelter through a congregational network plus a daytime engagement center; also runs job and housing programs year-round. roomintheinn.org
• Mary Parrish Center — long-term shelter for domestic violence survivors and their children
• YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee — domestic violence shelter and 24-hour crisis line: (615) 242-1199. Bilingual advocates
• Open Table Nashville — street outreach and rapid rehousing; works closely with people in encampments. opentablenashville.org
• Park Center — supportive housing and case management for adults with serious mental illness
• Office of Homeless Services (Metro Nashville) — coordinates the Continuum of Care and Coordinated Entry. nashville.gov/departments/office-homeless-services
• 211 Tennessee — free 24/7 information line for shelters, food, financial assistance, and social services

For a full walkthrough of finding shelter the first night, see our emergency housing tonight guide.

Section 8 in Nashville: MDHA Status and How to Apply

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in Nashville are administered by the Metropolitan Development & Housing Agency (MDHA). Current status (checked August 25, 2026):

• The tenant-based HCV waitlist is closed as of August 25, 2026. MDHA announces openings on the website and social media; applications run through the RentCafe portal
• Project-Based Voucher (PBV) lists at three named properties opened in early 2026: Neighborhood Housing, Vine Hill Apartments, and Historic Preston Taylor Apartments. PBV lists can be more accessible than the general HCV list — apply property-by-property through MDHA
• Public Housing through MDHA — a separate program with its own application process
• Other special programs: HUD-VASH for veterans, Mainstream vouchers for non-elderly people with disabilities — separate referral processes
• Apply to neighboring authorities too: Murfreesboro Housing Authority, Franklin Housing Authority, Hendersonville Housing Authority, and the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA, statewide) run separate lists
• Status check: call MDHA at (615) 252-8410 or email MDHAExecutive@nashville-MDHA.org if you've already applied and need to verify your position

For the national application process, see our step-by-step Section 8 guide and how to find your PHA.

Emergency Rental Assistance in Nashville (Named Programs)

If you're behind on rent or can't pay this month, these are the local programs currently operating in Nashville. Funding shifts month to month — always call to confirm current availability:

• NeedLink Nashville — help with income-based rent (MDHA or Section 8 rent, set at 30% of income) and with water, gas, or Nashville Electric Service (NES) bills, though its NES funding is very limited. The past-due balance has to be $300 or less. Important: NeedLink is not taking online applications; apply in person Monday or Tuesday, 10 AM to 2 PM, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3900 West End Avenue, or by mail. (615) 269-6835 · needlink.org
• Metro Action Commission — Household Assistance — Davidson County rent, mortgage, water, and other urgent needs for income-eligible residents. Call (615) 862-8860 or visit nashville.gov/departments/metro-action
• L.E.G.A.C.Y. Housing Resource Diversionary Court — operated through General Sessions Division VIII (Judge Rachel L. Bell). Eligible tenants in eviction proceedings can be diverted to a problem-solving track with funding from Metro Action's housing relief to pay arrearages and avoid eviction. gscourt.nashville.gov
• Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands — free legal representation for tenants facing eviction. Operates the Eviction Right to Counsel (ERTC) pilot in partnership with Metro Nashville. las.org
• United Way of Greater Nashville — runs 211 and coordinates the rental assistance referral network. unitedwaygreaternashville.org/rental-assistance
• Salvation Army of Greater Nashville — eviction prevention and utility assistance
• Catholic Charities of Tennessee — emergency financial assistance, food, immigration legal services. Spanish-language services available
• St. Vincent de Paul Society of Nashville — one-time emergency rental and utility help through local parish conferences
• Davidson County Emergency Winter Housing Assistance Program (EWHAP) — special program tied to the Winter Storm Fern State of Emergency (declared by Mayor Freddie O'Connell beginning January 26, 2026). For households at or below 80% AMI affected by the storm. nashville.gov

The federal pandemic ERA has ended

The federal pandemic Emergency Rental Assistance Program that distributed funds through Metro Action and partners has closed. Current paths in Nashville are Metro Action ongoing help, NeedLink (income-based rent only), and the L.E.G.A.C.Y. court track. Don't waste time on old 2021–2023 application portals.

Utility assistance: LIHEAP

In Tennessee, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is administered by community action agencies. In Davidson County, you apply through Metro Action Commission. Cooling assistance is critical in summer humidity. Apply through Metro Action or call 211.

Tenant Rights in Tennessee

Nashville is in Davidson County, which is covered by Tennessee's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTRA) — that gives stronger tenant protections than the older common-law rules in Tennessee's smaller counties:

• Nashville IS covered by URLTRA: URLTRA applies to counties with more than 75,000 residents — Davidson (Nashville), Shelby (Memphis), Knox (Knoxville), Hamilton (Chattanooga), and others. The protections below apply to Nashville tenancies
• No source-of-income protection: Tennessee does not have a statewide law preventing landlords from refusing Section 8 vouchers. Nashville has no local ordinance. Finding a landlord who already accepts vouchers is part of the work — MDHA can provide a list of participating landlords
• 14-day notice for nonpayment (TCA §66-28-505) — longer than many states. Use those days to call Metro Action, or NeedLink if your rent is income-based
• 30-day notice for month-to-month termination from either party (TCA §66-28-512)
• Security deposit return: the landlord must send an itemized list of deductions within 30 days of move-out (TCA §66-28-301). Tennessee does not cap deposit amounts under URLTRA
• Warranty of habitability: TCA §66-28-304 requires landlords to comply with building and housing codes, keep common areas safe, provide working plumbing, heating, hot water, and structural soundness
• Retaliatory eviction is illegal under TCA §66-28-514 if the landlord acts in response to good-faith tenant complaints or exercising legal rights
• Self-help eviction is illegal: Tennessee prohibits lockouts, utility shutoffs, and removal of belongings. The landlord must go through Davidson County General Sessions Court — and L.E.G.A.C.Y. Court in Division VIII may divert your case to a problem-solving track
• Fair housing: discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability is illegal under federal law and the Tennessee Human Rights Act. Metro Human Relations Commission handles local intakes
• Nashville Eviction Right to Counsel (ERTC) pilot: An independent evaluation found every $1 spent on free legal representation for tenants generated $4.18 in returns. Eligibility and capacity are limited — contact Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee at las.org to check whether you qualify

For free legal help: Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands represents low-income tenants and runs the ERTC pilot. For state-level details, see our Tennessee housing resources. If you experience discrimination, see how to file a housing discrimination complaint.

Other Housing Programs in Nashville

• Public housing: MDHA owns public-housing properties across Nashville, including the historic James A. Cayce Homes redevelopment. Application is separate from Section 8
• LIHTC (Tax Credit): privately owned income-restricted apartments. Nashville has substantial LIHTC inventory growing each year. Search HUD's LIHTC database for properties in Davidson County. See how to find LIHTC housing
• Barnes Housing Trust Fund — Metro Nashville's fund for creating and preserving affordable housing. Watch for new income-restricted apartments coming online
• HUD-VASH (veterans): combines a voucher with VA case management. Nashville-area veterans are referred through the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (Nashville VA). See how to apply for HUD-VASH
• Rapid Rehousing & Permanent Supportive Housing — coordinated through the Office of Homeless Services and the Continuum of Care. Access via 211 or Coordinated Entry
• Low Barrier Housing Collective — a Metro Nashville initiative that supports landlords renting to people exiting homelessness
• Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) programs — Great Choice Home Loan, down-payment assistance. thda.org
• HUD-approved housing counseling: find a counselor through the HUD counselor locator — Woodbine Community Organization and Affordable Housing Resources cover Nashville

Next Steps

Not sure which program is right for you? Our Where to Start tool asks a few quick questions about your situation — emergency vs. long-term, family vs. individual, employed vs. on benefits — and routes you to the right combination of programs. It takes about two minutes.

If rent is due this month, call Metro Action at (615) 862-8860, and see our guide to emergency rent help in Nashville for the other doors that pay rent. If you have a court date for eviction, contact Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee at las.org to check ERTC eligibility — and when you get to General Sessions Division VIII, ask about L.E.G.A.C.Y. Court diversion.