Nashville’s Housing Authority looking for feedback on voucher programs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Nashville rents are pretty high – 8% above the national average, according to Zillow. The Housing Authority is looking to ease some of that rental pain with a voucher program. But first, they want to hear what developers and builders think of the idea.

Rental assistance comes in several flavors. Take Robinson Flats in Old Hickory where tenants pay no more than 30% of their income to live there.

“I think it’s a benefit to keep rents affordable,” said Norman Deep, director of rental assistance, MDHA.

📧 Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts →

Deep oversees two voucher programs, which are federally funded, that keep rents affordable for certain families.

One is called Tenant-based vouchers, and Davidson County has about 5,700 of those units, and the rental assistance money is tied to the tenant.

The other is called Project-based vouchers, which tie the rental assistance money to the developer. There are currently about 1,000 of those.

“We know that families who meet the 50% or below income level will qualify for these units. They don’t have to go out and search and try and find a unit that’s suitable or affordable for them,” said Deep.

| READ MORE | Latest headlines from Nashville and Davidson County

MDHA launched an online survey, asking developers and landlords if they should scale back their tenant-based vouchers and increase their project-based vouchers. Landlords are encouraged to take the survey right now and weigh in on that idea.

“If they say they are interested, then it goes to other questions about more specific information about their planned development, units, when they’re going to be available – things like that,” said Deep. “Location, number of units, type of units, type of families served, whether its 1-bedroom or 2-bedrooms, 3-bedrooms, 4-bedrooms – all that is gathered in this survey.”

There are about 350 Project-based vouchers available. And, if the survey shows the landlords are interested, Nashville could see more complexes like Robinson Flats providing affordable rents in Nashville.

⏩ Read today’s top stories on wkrn.com

The survey deadline is October 7.

MDHA is taking applications right now for open units at Robinson Flatts.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.