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Public housing in Tennessee

Data from November 2026

Public housing agencies in Tennessee

85 public housing agencies administer 43,060 Section 8 vouchers and 19,991 public housing units in Tennessee. Each one takes applications and runs its own waiting list.

See the listHow they work
WhatsApp
Agencies
85
take applications and keep their own waiting lists
Section 8 vouchers
43,060
total they manage, not openings
Public housing units
19,991
total they manage, not openings

Source: Public Housing Agencies (HUD) Retrieved November 6, 2026 Public Housing Agencies (HUD)

How it works

How they work

There are two main kinds of help: the voucher to rent in the private market and public housing. You apply for both at the agency for your area in Tennessee.

  1. Step 1

    Section 8 (Housing Choice Vouchers)

    The family finds a home on the private market. The agency pays part of the rent directly to the landlord and the family pays the difference.

  2. Step 2

    Public housing

    Homes the agency itself manages. Rent is set from the family’s income.

  3. Step 3

    How to apply

    Apply at the agency for your area. They check income and family size, and may close their waiting list when it is full: ask whether it is open and how long it takes.

According to HUD: Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)· HUD: public housing program

Mixed-status families Section 8 and mixed-status families: how it works How the Section 8 voucher works, how aid is prorated in a mixed-status family, how to apply through your housing agency and what HUD proposed. Read the guide

HUD’s list

Every agency in Tennessee

Largest first. Search by name or county.

HUD’s official list exactly as published, retrieved November 6, 2026. Vouchers and units are totals each agency administers, not vacancies. Source: Public Housing Agencies (HUD) Retrieved November 6, 2026 Public Housing Agencies (HUD)

Frequently asked questions

What is a Section 8 voucher?

A Housing Choice Voucher from HUD’s federal program: the family rents on the private market and the housing agency pays part of the rent to the landlord. The family pays the difference.

How do I apply for a voucher or public housing in Tennessee?

At the housing agency for your area; Tennessee has 85. Each one has its own application and waiting list, and may close it when it is full. Call or check its site to see whether it is open.

How many Section 8 vouchers are there in Tennessee?

The agencies in Tennessee administer 43,060 Section 8 vouchers and 19,991 public housing units, according to HUD’s list retrieved November 6, 2026. They are program totals, not available vacancies.

Rents and rental help in Tennessee