Affordable Housing in Tampa, FL

This page collects the specific programs, agencies, phone numbers, and rules that apply in Tampa and Hillsborough County — not generic Section 8 advice. Tampa sits in a state that's tough for renters — Florida HB 1417 (July 2023) preempted local tenant protections, there's no source-of-income protection, and the eviction process moves on a 3-day timeline. But Tampa has built up a working safety net through the City's Rental and Move-In Assistance Program, Metropolitan Ministries, and Bay Area Legal Services. The named resources below are where to start.

Emergency Help Tonight in Tampa

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

• Metropolitan Ministries — Tampa's largest emergency shelter and outreach center for families and individuals. 2002 N. Florida Ave. Call (813) 209-1000. metromin.org
• Tampa Hope (Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg) — outdoor emergency shelter with case management and pathways to housing. ccdosp.org
• The Salvation Army Hillsborough County Area Command — emergency shelter (Red Shield Lodge) and rental assistance. salvationarmyflorida.org/tampa
• ECHO of Brandon — emergency shelter and rental assistance for east Hillsborough County residents
• Trinity Cafe (Metropolitan Ministries) — daily meals and engagement with case managers
• The Spring of Tampa Bay — domestic violence shelter and 24-hour crisis line: (813) 247-7233. Bilingual advocates
• Volunteers of America Florida — supportive housing and shelter for veterans and people with disabilities
• Hillsborough County Homeless Initiative — Coordinated Entry — central intake operated through Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative (THHI). Call 211
• 211 Tampa Bay Cares — 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 Tampa: THA Status and How to Apply

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in Tampa are administered by the Tampa Housing Authority (THA). THA serves both the city and the county: its own About page says THA "offers housing opportunities to serve residents of the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County." There is no separate Housing Authority of Hillsborough County — HUD's Florida PHA contact report lists only Tampa (FL003) and Plant City (FL034) in the county. Current status (checked September 9, 2026):

• The Housing Choice Voucher waitlist is closed. THA states it plainly: "Currently the waitlist to receive Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) is closed and will NOT be accepting applications until further notice." THA's Apply Online page adds, of everything else: "At this time all other Tampa Housing Waitlists are closed," while pointing applicants at its portal to "select the open application" — so check the portal rather than assuming either way. Call 813.341.9101, or customer service at 813.253.0551. Check the current status at tampaha.org
• Project-Based Rental Assistance — THA administers PBV contracts at specific properties. Apply property-by-property. tampaha.org/project-based-rental-assistance
• HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS) — THA administers up to 21 weeks of rent/utility support for HOPWA-eligible residents
• Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) — THA received 222 EHVs in July 2021. EHV is for households experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness, fleeing DV, or with high housing instability. EHV is closed to new applicants. THA’s own EHV page says the program "sunset September 30th, 2023 and no longer accepting applications," and HUD stopped all new EHV admissions nationwide in early September 2025 (Notice PIH 2025-07, reaffirmed by Notice PIH 2026-20 on August 10, 2026). Families who already hold an EHV keep their assistance (checked September 9, 2026)
• Public Housing through THA — separate program with its own waitlists
• Apply to neighboring authorities too: Plant City Housing Authority (the only other PHA in Hillsborough County), St. Petersburg HA (Pinellas County), Lakeland, and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation run separate lists
• Status check: log in to your THA applicant portal or call 813.341.9101

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

Emergency Rental Assistance in Tampa (Named Programs)

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

• City of Tampa Rental and Move-In Assistance Program (RMAP) — reopens in phases. Phase X reopened April 21, 2026 and focuses exclusively on move-in costs (security deposit and first month's rent) for eligible residents. tampa.gov/housing-and-community-development/rental-move-in-assistance · Call 813-307-5555
• Metropolitan Ministries — Emergency Rent and Mortgage Help — emergency funds for Hillsborough County residents at or below 80% AMI. In-person at 2002 N. Florida Ave or call (813) 209-1000. metromin.org
• Housing & Education Alliance (HEA) — homelessness prevention rental aid serving Pasco and Hillsborough counties. (813) 932-4600. heausa.org
• Bay Area Legal Services — free legal representation for low-income Tampa Bay tenants facing eviction. Maintains the Tampa Bay Housing Emergency List of current programs. bals.org
• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg — emergency financial assistance, food, immigration legal services. Spanish-language services available
• Salvation Army Hillsborough County Area Command — eviction prevention assistance and utility help
• St. Vincent de Paul Society of Tampa — one-time emergency rental and utility help through local parish conferences
• Hillsborough County Department of Family and Social Services — homeless prevention and rapid rehousing funds; access through 211
• JustService (formerly The Spring Foundation) — supportive housing programs across Tampa Bay

The federal pandemic ERA has ended

The federal pandemic Emergency Rental Assistance funds distributed through Florida and Hillsborough County have closed. The City of Tampa's RMAP continues with local funding, but it cycles through phases and may pause between fundings. Don't waste time on old 2021–2023 application portals — check tampa.gov for the current RMAP phase status.

Utility assistance: LIHEAP

In Florida, LIHEAP is administered locally. In Hillsborough County, you apply through the Hillsborough County Department of Aging Services or partner Community Action Agencies. Cooling assistance is critical in summer heat. Apply through CAHSD or call 211.

Tenant Rights in Tampa & Florida

Florida has a landlord-friendly framework, and a 2023 state law preempted local tenant protections. Knowing the current rules is essential:

• Florida HB 1417 (effective July 1, 2023) preempted local tenant protections: Florida's state legislature preempted local government tenant ordinances. Any local protections Tampa or Hillsborough County had passed are largely no longer enforceable. The state's landlord-tenant statute (Chapter 83) is now controlling
• No source-of-income protection: Florida does not have a statewide law preventing landlords from refusing Section 8 vouchers, and HB 1417 prevents local ordinances. Finding a landlord who already accepts vouchers is part of the work — THA can provide a list of participating landlords
• No rent control allowed: Florida Statute 125.0103 prohibits cities and counties from passing local rent control except in declared housing emergencies (very rare). Tampa landlords can raise rent freely at lease end
• 3-day notice for nonpayment (Florida Statute §83.56) — excludes Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. Among the shortest in the country. Act fast
• Security deposit return: within 15 days with no deductions, or 30 days with itemized deductions sent by certified mail (FS §83.49). Florida does not cap deposit amounts
• Notice to end month-to-month: 30 days from either party (FS §83.57, as amended by HB 1417 in 2023; up from 15 days previously). This is one of the few HB 1417 changes that helped tenants
• Warranty of habitability: Florida Statute §83.51 requires landlords to comply with building, housing, and health codes; provide working plumbing, heat in winter, hot water, and structural soundness
• Retaliatory eviction is illegal under FS §83.64 if you've complained about code violations or organized tenants within the prior year
• Self-help eviction is illegal: changing locks, shutting off utilities, or removing belongings violates FS §83.67 — the landlord can be liable for 3 months' rent plus damages
• Fair housing: discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability is illegal under federal and Florida law. The Tampa Office of Human Rights handles local intakes

For free legal help: Bay Area Legal Services represents low-income tenants in eviction defense across Tampa Bay. For state-level details, see our Florida housing resources. If you experience discrimination, see how to file a housing discrimination complaint. For cross-county comparison, see our Miami and Jacksonville pages (different programs, same state law).

Other Housing Programs in Tampa

• Public housing: THA owns public-housing communities across Tampa. Application is separate from Section 8
• LIHTC (Tax Credit): Tampa has substantial LIHTC inventory. Search HUD's LIHTC database for properties in Hillsborough County. See how to find LIHTC housing
• HOPWA — THA administers Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS with up to 21 weeks of rent/utility support
• HUD-VASH (veterans): combines a voucher with VA case management. Tampa-area veterans are referred through the James A. Haley VA Medical Center. See how to apply for HUD-VASH
• Rapid Rehousing & Permanent Supportive Housing — coordinated through Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative (THHI). Access via 211
• Florida Housing Finance Corporation programs — SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Partnership) administered by Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa for down-payment assistance and home repair. floridahousing.org
• HUD-approved housing counseling: find a counselor through the HUD counselor locator — Tampa-Hillsborough Action Plan (THAP) and Housing & Education Alliance cover the area

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 you're between apartments or facing a move, RMAP Phase X focuses on move-in costs — call the City Housing Information Line at 813-307-5555. If you've been served a 3-day notice, contact Bay Area Legal Services immediately. For shelter or family rent help, call Metropolitan Ministries at (813) 209-1000.