…The Memphis Housing Authority recently opened up its waiting list (from March 21 – March 25, 2022). Gaining acceptance into the program is typically a lengthy process. There are other challenges in the program that many clients experience and that newcomers can expect. I’ll specify here that the Memphis Housing Authority is in need of improvements, though items of discussion could apply to others…
…One of the chief problems in the program is locating housing that accepts Housing Choice vouchers or Section 8. Because of the difficulty locating homes that accept housing choice or Section 8 vouchers, the Housing Authority should be more proactive in terms of helping its clients to acquire housing. At one point it used to be. I happen to know multiple people in the program who had no problems locating or acquiring housing…
When querying MHA about available housing in the program they direct its clients to the TNHousingSearch.org website. The problem here is that most of the listings on this site are outdated or the listed homes are no longer available.
For example, when I did a search for a three bedroom house, I was presented with a list consisting of circa thirty houses that were posted by Lubin Property Management (including 1866 Valley, Memphis, TN 38106, 1988 Prospect St., Memphis, TN 38106, 1385 Kyle, Memphis, TN 38114, 386 Lucy Ave., Memphis, TN 38106, 1970 Foster, Memphis, TN 38114, 1491 Ethlyn, Memphis, TN 38114, 26 E. McKeller Ave., Memphis, TN 38109, 1389 Longcrest Rd., Memphis, TN 38109, 185 West Devant, Memphis, TN 38109, 5100 Corkwood Dr., Memphis, TN 38127, 3533 Millard Rd., Memphis, TN 38109, 3703 Kerwin, Memphis, TN 38128, 1659 Gaither St., Memphis, TN, 38127, 4058 Point Church Rd., Memphis, TN 38127, 1288 Dogwood Dr., Memphis, TN 38111, 3405 Prescott Circle, Memphis,TN 38111, 1260 Dogwood Dr., Memphis, TN 38111, 4694 Royal View Dr., Memphis, TN 38128, 4640 Plato Ave., Memphis, TN 38128, 665 Whiterock, Memphis, TN 38109, 3870 Capricorn, Memphis, TN 38128, 3787 Dagmar, Memphis, TN 38128, 3827 Vanuys, Memphis, TN 38111, 3242 Egypt Central Rd., Memphis, TN 38128, 3290 S Mendenhall Rd., Memphis, TN 38115, 3775 Emerson, Memphis, TN 38128, 1214 Chicamagua Ave., Memphis, TN 38109). None of these houses are available to rent and have not been for some time and should be removed from this list.
Check out Lubin’s available rentals (their only available rental that accepts Section 8 as of 3/27/2022 is a 2 bedroom home, which is unacceptable for a client requiring a three bedroom home). There are many other listings on this site that are not available (Availability for a three bedroom home is additionally sparse or non-existent in MHA’s property portfolio)…
…The TNHousingSearch.org or Social Serve website should be routinely updated to accurately reflect only available listings that accept Section 8. This list should additionally include specific availability in MHA’s property portfolio. There should be enough listed houses and apartments on the site to accommodate all approved program participants at any given time…
If there are not enough listed houses or apartments available to accommodate all program participants, MHA should pay for them to stay wherever they are (i.e. an extended stay hotel or transitional shelter) up to the full amount of their shopping range for housing and utilities until they can acquire more permanent, sufficient housing where their vouchers would be accepted…
Clients should additionally be capable of requesting tours and applying to these properties from the TNHousingSearch.org or Social Serve website either free of cost or via a one-time application payment that would allow unlimited applications without any additional cost.
…MHA client deposits on external rentals should be income contingent or client deposits should match their rent burden. For example, if a client’s rent burden is $350 monthly, their deposit should be the same amount. MHA should pay the residual amount of the deposit like it would pay its portion of the client’s ordinary rent. MHA should not charge deposits on their own properties, at least not in certain extenuating circumstances…
It is possible to create a profile on the TNHousingSearch.org or Social Serve website and to opt to receive email notifications of new available properties. The problem here is that these homes are removed from the site as quickly as they are posted, perhaps because of the fierce competition for housing and program participants quickly snatching them up…
…It is absolutely senseless to issue vouchers to clients that they may never get to use because of difficulty locating Section 8 Housing and/or due to challenges producing a required deposit. Housing should be available for each and every client accepted into the program. Whenever a client is unable to locate a home that is accepting of their housing choice voucher, MHA should acquire new property if necessary to accommodate the client. This is only logical and fair…