Despite the economic expansion of recent years, many low-income renters in Tennessee are struggling with an unprecedented shortage of affordable housing. In short, the supply of affordable, quality rental housing has not kept pace with economic growth.

To fill the critical gap between what low-income families can afford to pay for rent and what the market allows, THDA offers the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance program. The Department of Housing and Urban Development funds THDA to provide rental assistance to over 5,000 families statewide (78 counties). The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program helps low-income families afford the private rental unit of their choice by paying, directly to the property owner, the difference between the cost of the rent and utilities and 30 percent of the family's monthly (adjusted) income.

THDA offers a Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program to Section 8 HCV families that desire economic self-sufficiency. THDA's FSS Coordinator works with families to establish goals and locate the public and private resources necessary to achieve their goals within five years of enrolling in the program. Families that participate in the program are eligible to earn escrow (or savings) as their earned income increases. THDA has graduated over 30 people from the FSS program with escrow distributions ranging from $500 to $9,000 dollars.