MDHA is pleased to provide housing assistance to citizens of Nashville through a variety of programs.
The programs administered by the Rental Assistance Department are governed by specific eligibility requirements established by the U.S Congress and implemented by the federal department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD issues regulations and requires housing agencies to adopt certain plans and policies.
The Rental Assistance Department administers the Housing Choice Voucher and Moderate Rehabilitation Programs, federally funded rent supplement programs designed to help families find decent, safe and sanitary housing in the private market and to help those families with the cost of rent and utilities.
Under these programs the family pays between 30-40 percent of its adjusted income or a minimum of $50 per month for rent and utilities. MDHA pays the difference. The private owner and renter both benefit. The owner receives fair market rent for his/her property, and the family gets a decent, affordable place to live.
Property in this program must meet Nashville and HUD quality standards. Participating dwelling units must pass a Housing Quality Standards inspection conducted by the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency. The Rental Assistance office executes the Housing Assistance Payments Contract, provides assistance to qualified families, meets with prospective owners program for homeless individuals, and 230 units through the Shelter Plus Care Program, a program targeted to homeless individuals and families with disabilities, for a total of 6,140 units administered by the Rental Assistance Department.
Other special programs include the Family Unification Program, where Rental Assistance is given to those families who have had or are facing their children removed from the home where lack of suitable housing is the primary reason for the removal of the children; and the Family Self-Sufficiency program, where participants are linked to services with the goal of becoming free of all governmental assistance.
In 2000, MDHA was one of three Housing Agencies in the country selected to implement a demonstration program for Section 8 to Homeownership. Assistance for qualified families is made to a lender to assist the family with their mortgage payment. Since October 2000, more than 140 families have closed on the purchase of a home.
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Annual Recertification
All forms must be completed in their entirety. If a section does not apply, please type the word “None”. Make sure you enter all information and name(s) on signature lines on all forms. Once completed, you will need to save the document to your computer, tablet, or smartphone and then email the document along with the applicable supporting documentation to your Section 8 Specialist.
If you are completing the form using your smartphone, it is recommended that you use the Adobe Fill and Sign app available for free from the Google Play Store and/or Apple App Store.
** Note: The annual re-certification packet is for current participants only. It is not to apply for Section 8 housing.
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COVID-19
On March 1, 2021, MDHA resumed all annual inspections. For more information, review the new annual inspection COVID-19 protocol below. The lobby of the MDHA Rental Assistance office located at 302 Foster St. is open for participants to come in to report changes or pick up or drop off documents.