Find a place. Know your options. Stay safe.
Where to look for affordable housing in Memphis, what to do if you have a record, and what to do if you are behind on rent.
What is your situation?
Get your papers
ID, proof of income, and your credit file. See the checklist below.
Apply to more than one
Waiting lists are long. Apply in several places.
Stay safe
Never pay before you see the place and a written lease.
The honest truth
- Affordable housing in Memphis has waiting lists. Public housing and vouchers are often closed. When a list opens, you may be picked by chance. Applying does not promise you a spot.
- We cannot promise you a place. We do not find homes or screen landlords. This page points you to official places and tells you what to ask.
- Keep going. Work on several steps at once: apply, build your file, and ask for help.
Behind on rent, or got a notice?
Act now. Do not wait for court. Do not ignore court papers. Papers have a date and a time. If you miss it, you can lose by default.
Shelby County Division of Community Services
The county lists help for eviction prevention (rent or mortgage that you owe) and for utility bills. Funds and rules change, so call first and ask what is open now.
- Main line: 901-222-3990
- Utility help (open account or cut-off notice): 901-222-4111
Dial 211 or text home901 to 21000
HUD's Tennessee page points West Tennessee renters to 211 or a text to 21000 with the word home901 for rent and utility help. It also lists the Shelby County Community Services Agency.
See HUD's Tennessee pageFree legal help
If you have a court date, a lock-out threat, or a bad landlord, call a legal aid group. They help with civil matters like evictions.
See free legal clinicsMemphis Area Legal Services intake line: 901-523-8822 (leave a message).
Also on the list
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul: 901-722-4703. Help through local churches. Listed by the University of Memphis crisis page. We did not confirm current funds.
- Memphis Light, Gas & Water: 901-544-6549. Ask about payment plans and assistance.
Affordable housing, step by step
These links go to other websites. We checked them on Oct 25, 2026. We do not run them.
Public housing and vouchers
MHA runs public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program. Waiting lists open and close. Check the MHA website for what is open now. Some past openings were online only, and some were picked by chance.
- Office: 700 Adams Ave, Memphis, TN 38105
- Phone: 901-544-1100
- Voucher office: appointment or drop-off, Monday to Thursday, 8 am to 4 pm. Closed Friday.
- Need help because of a disability? Ask MHA for help applying.
Only apply on the MHA website. Do not pay anyone to "get you on the list."
Find affordable apartments near you
HUD has a search for affordable apartments. It does not show openings, so call each place and ask about their waiting list.
HUD Resource LocatorTennessee Housing Search lists homes and apartments for rent. Phone help: 877-428-8844, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 8 pm Central. tnhousingsearch.org
Free help from a housing counselor
A HUD-approved counselor can help you make a budget, get ready to rent, and learn your rights. Enter your ZIP code to find one.
Find a counselorOr call 800-569-4287.
County housing programs
The Shelby County Department of Housing runs programs for people who live in the county's service area. Its page lists home-buyer help. It does not list rental help. Call to ask what is open.
Phone: 901-222-7600
What to ask each apartment
- Is the waiting list open? How long is it?
- What is the income limit for my household?
- Is there an application fee? What does it cost?
- What do you check: credit, rent history, or criminal history? Do you have a written policy?
- What happens if I am turned down? Can I ask for a second look?
Second chance housing
If you have an arrest or conviction, finding a place is harder. It is not the end. Here is the honest picture.
What we can and cannot say
- We do not have a list of landlords who rent to anyone with a record. Lists like that change fast and many are wrong. We will not give you one we cannot stand behind.
- Each landlord and housing authority has its own rules. Some look at how long ago it was and what happened. Some will look at your whole story.
- Federal rules block some people. For example, people on a lifetime sex offender registry cannot get federally assisted housing. Ask a legal aid group if you are not sure how your record counts.
- Fair housing rules are changing. In 2025, HUD's lawyers said an older (2016) guide on criminal records in housing no longer reflects their official position. So do not assume a landlord cannot turn you down for a record. A legal aid group can tell you what applies to you.
Redemption House
A home on Mississippi Blvd for men leaving Shelby County prison. It holds up to three men for 90 to 120 days and helps with the next step to permanent housing. Men are referred through the Shelby County Division of Corrections. Source: Tri-State Defender, Aug 15, 2025.
No public phone number was listed. If you or someone you love is leaving custody, ask the Division of Corrections case manager.
Shelby County Office of Re-Entry
Shelby County was awarded nearly $1 million from the U.S. Department of Justice for a program to help formerly jailed people with housing. We could not find how to apply. Call the county and ask for the Office of Re-Entry.
County main line: 901-222-2300
Ways to improve your chances
- Know what a landlord will see. Get your credit file and your own record before you apply. Our free workshop shows you your file.
- Be honest and ready. Say it first, short and calm. Then say what has changed: a job, steady pay, a case manager, classes.
- Bring proof. Pay stubs, a job offer letter, a letter from a case manager or a pastor, and past rent receipts.
- Ask for a second look in writing. Many landlords will look at your full story if you ask.
- Ask a legal aid group about clearing your record. Some records may qualify to be expunged. A lawyer can tell you. We cannot promise it.
- Look for rooms and shared homes too. A small place can be a first step while you build rental history.
Turned down? Know your options
If you think you were turned down because of your race, disability, family, sex, religion, or where you come from, you can file a complaint with HUD. It is free.
File a HUD fair housing complaintOr call 1-800-669-9777. For help with a record, call legal aid first.
Credit and renting
Many landlords check credit and rent history. A past eviction or unpaid bill can slow you down. A wrong item can hurt you for no reason.
- Get your credit file before you apply, so there are no surprises.
- Look for items that are wrong. You can dispute them.
- If a landlord turns you down because of a report, ask which company made it, and ask for a copy of the report.
This is education only, not legal advice.
Want to see what a landlord sees?
Come to our free Thursday workshop. We show you what your file shows and give you a first step.
Save my seatGet ready checklist
Tap each box when it is done.
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Rental scam check
Before you send money or papers, look at the rental. Tap anything that is true.
Report a scam: reportfraud.ftc.gov. Or text us at 945-231-1540 and we will help.
Also in this guide
A stable job helps you rent. See our Job Bank.
Know a good resource? Is a link broken?
Text 945-231-1540 or email [email protected]. We check the list every week.
Please read: FundedCEO™ is not a housing authority, landlord, lender, or law firm. We do not place people in homes. We do not screen or endorse landlords, listings, or programs, and we cannot promise you housing. This page is education, not legal advice. Links and phone numbers go to other groups we do not control. Always confirm before you rely on them.
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