Quick answer
There is no longer a statewide Tennessee rent relief program. THDA’s Emergency Rental Assistance and Eviction Prevention Program stopped on July 31, 2025, and the federal money behind it (Treasury’s ERA2) ended on September 30, 2025. Rent help in Tennessee now comes from local sources: dial 211 for county emergency assistance and charities, apply for a Housing Choice Voucher through THDA or your local housing authority for ongoing help, and ask Legal Aid if you have an eviction notice. Applying for all of these is free.
Key facts
- THDA’s emergency rental assistance ended July 31, 2025 and is not taking applications. THDA directs renters to 2-1-1.
- The federal Emergency Rental Assistance program behind most state programs ended; ERA2’s period of performance closed September 30, 2025.
- Ongoing help still exists: Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) through THDA and local housing authorities, with waiting lists.
- One-time help still exists locally: community action agencies, Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul, and church funds, usually reached through 211.
- No legitimate program charges a fee to apply or asks for gift cards.
Table of contents
- What Tennessee rent relief program ended, and why does it matter?
- What rent help exists in Tennessee now?
- What if I already have an eviction notice?
- Can I get help with utilities instead of rent?
- What documents do I need to bring?
- How do I apply, step by step?
- Related guides
- Frequently asked questions
What Tennessee rent relief program ended, and why does it matter?
During and after the pandemic, Tennessee ran two statewide rent programs with federal money. The COVID-19 Rent Relief portal closed to new applications in January 2023. Its successor, the Emergency Rental Assistance – Eviction Prevention Program, paid back rent for households facing eviction until it ended on July 31, 2025. THDA’s own program page now says it is no longer taking applications and tells renters who need help to call 2-1-1, according to the THDA Emergency Rental Assistance page.
The reason it ended is federal: the U.S. Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance program, which funded Tennessee and every other state, reached the end of its period of performance on September 30, 2025, as stated on Treasury’s ERA page. In total the program sent more than $46 billion to communities nationwide, but that money can no longer be used for new renters.
Why this matters: many websites still describe “Tennessee rent relief” as if the state portal were open. It is not. If a site asks you to “apply now” for THDA rent relief and pay a fee, it is a scam.
What rent help exists in Tennessee now?
Tennessee rent relief today is a mix of ongoing federal programs and one-time local emergency funds. None of them is a single statewide application.
| Type of help | What it pays | Who runs it | How fast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) | Ongoing subsidy; you usually pay about 30% of income toward rent | THDA in many counties; Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga and others have their own housing authorities | Waiting lists, often months to years; priority for some groups |
| County emergency assistance | One-time help with back rent or a deposit, amounts vary by funding | Community action agencies and county human service offices | Days to a few weeks, usually by appointment |
| Charity rent funds | One-time payment to the landlord, often a few hundred dollars | Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul, MIFA in Memphis, churches | Days, after an in-person interview with your lease and notice |
| Homelessness prevention (ESG) | Short-term rent and move-in costs for households about to lose housing | Local nonprofits funded by HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grants, reached through coordinated entry | Varies; start with 211 |
HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grants fund five things locally: street outreach, emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, rapid re-housing, and data systems, according to HUD Exchange’s ESG requirements. The “homelessness prevention” part is the piece that can pay rent arrears for a household at imminent risk. You reach it through your area’s coordinated entry system, and 211 can tell you where that is.
For ongoing help, THDA administers the Housing Choice Voucher program in much of the state and posts voucher information for current holders on thda.org. Large cities run their own housing authorities, so apply to every list you qualify for.
What if I already have an eviction notice?
- Do not ignore the court date. In Tennessee an eviction (“detainer”) case moves quickly, and missing the hearing usually means losing by default.
- Call Legal Aid. Tennessee’s legal aid societies represent low-income tenants for free. Dial 211 and ask for legal aid for eviction, or search for “legal aid” plus your county.
- Ask the landlord for a written payment plan before the hearing. Charities are far more likely to pay when the landlord has agreed in writing to accept a partial payment and stop the case.
- Bring paperwork: the lease, the notice, proof of income, and ID. Every emergency fund asks for them.
Can I get help with utilities instead of rent?
Yes, and freeing up a utility payment can keep rent current. The federal LIHEAP program helps with heating and cooling bills and energy crises, through your local community action agency in Tennessee. HHS notes LIHEAP never charges a fee, and you can find your local office through the National Energy Assistance Referral line at 1-866-674-6327. Our utility relief guide covers the details.
What documents do I need to bring?
Most rent programs make a decision at the first appointment if your paperwork is complete, and send you home if it is not. Gather these before you call:
| Document | Why the agency needs it |
|---|---|
| Photo ID for the applicant | Identity and residency |
| Current lease or rental agreement | Proves the rent amount and that you are the tenant |
| Notice to vacate, shutoff notice, or court papers | Shows the emergency; some funds require it |
| Proof of income for the last 30 days, or a signed statement of no income | Most funds have income limits |
| Proof of the hardship (layoff letter, medical bill, repair estimate) | Many funds require a cause beyond an ongoing shortfall |
| Landlord’s name, phone, and mailing address | Payments go to the landlord or vendor, not to you |
| Social Security numbers or ITINs for household members | Required by many public programs; many charities do not ask |
Bring originals and keep photos on your phone. If an agency says funds are gone, ask which fund in the county still has money this week; caseworkers usually know.
How do I apply, step by step?
- Dial 211 (free and confidential) and say you need rent help in your county. Ask for every open program: community action, charities, ESG prevention, and legal aid. Write down names and appointment times.
- Apply for a Housing Choice Voucher through THDA and your city housing authority, even if the list is long. It is the only ongoing rent help.
- Apply for LIHEAP through your community action agency to lower your utility cost.
- Check other benefits that free up cash: SNAP (use our SNAP calculator) and, for families with children, TANF through the Tennessee Department of Human Services.
Applying is free. THDA, 211, community action agencies, and legal aid never charge to apply. If someone asks for a processing fee or a gift card, stop and verify.
For more specifics, see our guides on emergency rent relief by state and programs that help pay rent.
Related guides
- Immediate hotel vouchers for people who are homeless
- Hardship grants for individuals
- Low-income housing with no waiting list
- Housing help: vouchers, affordable housing, and paths to owning
Frequently asked questions
Is Tennessee rent relief still available in 2026?
Not as a statewide program. THDA’s Emergency Rental Assistance and Eviction Prevention Program ended July 31, 2025. Rent help now comes from local community action agencies, charities, HUD-funded prevention programs, and Housing Choice Vouchers.
Who do I call for rent help in Tennessee?
Dial 211. It is the number THDA itself points renters to, and it connects you with county emergency assistance, charities, and legal aid in your area.
How much rent assistance can I get in Tennessee?
One-time local funds usually pay a few hundred dollars to one month’s rent, depending on the agency’s budget. Housing Choice Vouchers are ongoing and typically limit your share of rent to about 30% of income.
Can I get rent help if I have no eviction notice yet?
Often yes. Many charities help before a notice is filed, and homelessness prevention funds are meant for households at risk. Ask 211 which programs in your county require a notice.
Does THDA still take rent relief applications?
No. THDA’s page states the program ended and refers renters to 2-1-1. Questions about past applications go to THDA’s Community Services division.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these official sources on October 24, 2026. If a source and this page ever disagree, follow the source.
- Tennessee Housing Development Agency: Emergency Rental Assistance – Eviction Prevention Program (ended July 31, 2025)
- U.S. Treasury: Emergency Rental Assistance program status
- HUD Exchange: Emergency Solutions Grants program requirements
- Tennessee Housing Development Agency: home page and rental assistance
- HHS Administration for Children and Families: LIHEAP
- 211.org: find your local 211
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice, and not an application. Program rules and funding change; confirm with the agency that runs the program. National Relief Program is an independent website, not a government agency.
Before you apply: program rules, amounts, and deadlines change. Always confirm details with the official agency or program administrator. Applying for government benefits is free.
National Relief Program is an independent guide, not a government agency. Spotted an error? Email support@nationalreliefprogram.org.
