Housing

To locate services in your community, click here to search the Pathfinder database. On the database search page, select your county and a service category then click on "Search."

You may be interested in these Pathfinder service categories related to Housing: Assistive Technology & Equipment, Home Rehabilitation/Repair Service, Housing Information, In-Home Assistance, Ramp Construction, Residential Services. Click here to look up service definitions.

General Housing Information

Tennessee Housing Resource Directory (PDF Format) produced by the Tennessee Division of Mental Retardation Services. The directory covers rental assistance, the Tennessee Home of your Own Program, housing grants to non-profits, as well as a variety of pointers on issues such as housing laws and accessiblity resources. The goal of this directory is to provide aid individuals in working through the housing and homeownership system and provide an overall outline of the process.

Accessible Design/Universal Design Resources offers information about Universal Design, including guidelines, articles, house plans, and other resources.

Adapting Your Home To Maximize Mobility, from the Washington Post.

A Home of Your Own Guide walks prospective home owners with disabilities through the process of buying a home, from the initial decision to make the purchase, through the steps for acquiring a mortgage, and finally, to life as a homeowner.

DisabilityInfo.Gov provides information on housing laws, design and technical advice for people with disabilities, their family members, public housing organizations and the nation's builders.

Opening Doors is a housing initiative designed to provide information and technical assistance on affordable housing issues to people with disabilities, their families, advocates, and service providers across the United States.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the Federal agency that sponsors the Rural Housing Service, which provides homeownership opportunities to rural Americans, as well as programs for home renovation and repair. Financing is made available to elderly, disabled, or low-income rural residents of multi-unit housing buildings to ensure they are able to make rent payments. Click on the links below for information about these programs or contact your regional Rural Development office.

Direct Loan Program
Loan Guarantee Program
Mutual Self-Help Housing Program
Home Repair and Preservation
Homes for Sale
Rental Assistance Program (Multi-Family Housing)

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is the Federal agency responsible for national policy and programs that address America's housing needs, that improve and develop the nation's communities, and enforce fair housing laws. HUD offers housing information for people with disabilities. HUD also offers several programs administered by state and local housing agencies. For information about these programs, click on the links below or contact your regional HUD office.

Public Housing is low-income housing, operated by your local housing authority.
Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) is subsidized housing, in which the housing authority gives the tenant a certificate or voucher that says the government will subsidize your rent payments and then you find your own housing.
Privately Owned Subsidized Housing, where the government provides subsidies to the owner who then applies those subsidies to the rents he/she charges low-income tenants.
FHA Mortgage Insurance Program is a mortgage financing program through the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), a division of HUD.
Fair Housing The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and national origin. It covers renters or buyers of private housing and government financed or subsidized housing. Owners of housing facilities are required to make reasonable exceptions in their policies and operations to afford people with disabilities equal housing opportunities. Complaints of Fair Housing Act Violations may be filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or your regional HUD office.

Where To Find Help in Nashville, Tennessee is a guide to shelter and other available services distributed by the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency.

An article discusses new information about a fund set up by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency that would help elderly, special needs, and low-income homeowners make essential home repairs.