Eviction and homeless prevention programs in Tennessee.
Non-profits across Tennessee work to solve homelessness. This can include preventing evictions and/or foreclosures. They mostly use government funding that is part of the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) or HUD Continuum of Care program. Other resources available can include counseling for homeowners, rapid rehousing services, as well as the Supportive Housing Program. More information on these Tennessee programs are below.
First and foremost, homeless prevention services are administered. Tennessee pro-actively works to keep people in their current homes or apartments, so prevention is an option for people that are at risk of homelessness. It can be the result of say a missed payment on their mortgage, or maybe they are late on their rent payments. The agencies will offer a number of assistance programs to those that qualify.
One of the main purposes of ESG is to prevent individuals or families from becoming homeless or having to move into a shelter. Whether you rent or own a home, assistance may be offered to those that qualify.
Renters may be able to receive emergency funds to pay any back rent that is due. While the state will try to provide them with a grant as part of ESG, in other cases a loan may be issued to clients. Other resources available in Tennessee include landlord/tenant mediation and case management.
Homeowners can also receive help as well. While financial aid for paying a home loan is very limited, there are other programs available to them. This will generally include free foreclosure counseling or assistance in applying for government mortgage modification programs. Housing counselors from the agencies in Tennessee may also deal directly with the homeowner's lender in order to mediate a solution that works for both the lender and the homeowner.
Rapid Re-housing is available for residents that are currently homeless per federal government HUD guidelines. Government grants can be issued in an effort to help homeless persons and/or very low income families that are currently living in an emergency shelter or on the streets.
As part of this service, clients can get help in transitioning as quickly as possible into permanent, low income housing or apartments. In general, the unit needs to be approved by a case management, and in some cases public housing may be mandated. There may be grants available as part of re-housing for paying a security deposit, moving expenses, or first and last months rent on a new home.
Whether someone is homeless, requires foreclosure prevention or was rehoused, then case management is required as a form of stabilization. Staff from an agency will work with the individual to ensure they rebuild their credit, obtain employment, and have a budget in place. The goal is to ensure that the participant is never again facing an eviction and that they pay their rent on their own in the future. Since financial assistance is so limited, this type of self-sufficiency is a requirement.
Supportive or low income housing is available, mostly for the disabled and seniors in Tennessee. In some cases they may receive priority for any counseling or security deposit assistance. HUD may require this in many instances.
Another key focus is on preventing evictions of veterans and/or rehousing them, and this is administered from a federally funded program known as SSVF. So grants can be used for some of those individuals who are considered more at risk.
Additional homeless prevention programs in Tennessee
Tenants facing eviction, as well as the homeless that are applying for stability or a security deposit, can apply at other non-profits. A list of counties, towns and cities is below on this page, with the largest counties here. This is in addition to the services indicated here.
Contacts in Tennessee for referrals to eviction programs
While in some cases, the agencies listed below will have funds from the Emergency Solutions Grants program, in most cases they will offer referrals.
Family Promise of Blount County, 1633 Louisville Rd, Alcoa, TN 37701, (865) 233-4737
Anderson County, (865) 457-5500
Blount County, dial (865) 983-8411
Bradley County, telephone (423) 479-4111
Cheatham, Sumner, Wilson, Trousdale, Rutherford, Robertson, and Williamson County - (615) 742-1113
Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Monroe, and Sevier County, dial (423) 587-4500
Davidson County, (615) 862-8860. Cal lfor information on how to stop an eviction, including referrals to grants or funds for paying rent.
Dickson, Stewart, Houston and Humphreys County - (931) 289-4101
East Tennessee region, including Campbell, Morgan, Scott, Union, and Claiborne County - (865) 691-2551
Fayette, Tipton, and Lauderdale County - (901) 476-5226
Hamilton County - (423) 757-5551
Knox County, telephone - (865) 546-3500
Legal Aid of Middle TN and the Cumberlands, 300 Deaderick St, Nashville, TN 37201, (615) 244-6610
Legal Aid of East TN supports several counties in the state.
Mid-East part of Tennessee, including Loudon and Roane. (865) 354-0451
Montgomery County, (931) 896-1800
Northwest Tennessee counties of Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Lake, Gibson, Obion, Henry, and Weakley. (731) 364-3228.
Shelby County, dial (901) 222-4200. The homeless may benefit from transitional housing or security deposit programs.
South Central counties of Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, Moore, Perry and Wayne. (931) 433-7182.
Southeast Tennessee, including Bledsoe, Grundy, Marion, McMinn, Meig, Sequatchie, Polk, and Rhea County. (423) 949-2191.
Southwest Tennessee. Counties of Chester, Decatur, Hardin, Hardeman, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, and McNairy. (731) 989-5111.
Upper Cumberland. Counties of Cumberland, Fentress, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, White, Cannon, Dekalb, Van Buren, and Warren. Dial (931) 528-1127.
Upper East Tennessee counties of Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington. Call (423) 246-6180.
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