Who We Are

The Memphis Housing Authority is the second oldest Housing Authority in the United States and was created in 1935 under Section 615 of the Private Act of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee. In collaboration with a number of partner agencies, MHA provides eligible families and individuals opportunities to obtain decent, safe, sanitary and affordable rental housing. Through MHA's assisted housing programs across Memphis and Shelby County, over 26,000 low income families and individuals are served and empowered to work towards self-sufficiency. 2020 marks the 85th Anniversary of MHA, and we are proud to celebrate its rich history and contributions toward transformative revitalization of the Memphis landscape.

To develop, support and maintain affordable housing options that provide stability and a sense of community for people with low to moderate incomes.

Vision

To create vibrant sustainable communities that provide a range of affordable quality housing options for all people.

Ethics
The Board of Commissioners and employees of the Memphis Housing Authority will maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct, service delivery, mutual trust and enthusiasm.

Philosophy
We are professionals committed to excellence through exceptional service, a sense of urgency, integrity, accountability and respect for all customers.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Hope VI grants totaling $146 million in federal funds leveraged over $312 million dollars of additional public and private funding, that was invested in the revitalization of deteriorated public housing developments. Successes associated with the grants include:

Deconcentrating high poverty areas by creating mixed income environments. Revitalized communities include new housing for seniors, market rate, moderate to low income, and public housing tenants
Decreasing density in housing environments by acquiring additional acreage, creating greenspace, community parks, and recreation areas.
Building community centers within the revitalized areas that offer technology and social service resources to residents.
Eliminating environmental hazards that existed in aged, blight ridden properties such as, lead based paint, asbestos and ground contaminations.
Creating safer communities by designing open environments with increased lighting, controlled access systems in buildings, and increased police presence with the construction of new precincts near revitalized neighborhoods.

2009 ARAA grants totaling $13 million dollars, were invested in the revitalization of deteriorated public housing developments.

Residential Social Service grants totaling nearly $3.8 million dollars to support activities focused self-sufficiency programs include:

Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) – This program helps working families save for homeownership or education goals by making deposits into each participant’s escrow saving account that is a dollar for dollar match to any pay increases that the tenant receives throughout their time in the program. Additionally, pay increases received while tenants are participating in the FSS program will not cause their rent to increase.
Resident Opportunity and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) Grant – Case managers link residents to community resources that are designed to create suitable home environments, provide resources for healthy living, financial management, counseling and mental health.
Jobs Plus – This program is designed to help residents become gainfully employed with the added benefit of having no corresponding increase in rent. MHA has partnered with USI (formerly Urban Strategies, Inc.), the Workforce Investment Network (WIN) and local employers to create employment opportunities that are geared toward the participants of this program.

CURRENT PROJECTS
Choice Neighborhood Initiative Grant of $29.75 million-dollars was awarded to Memphis Housing Authority in 2015. This grant was matched by a $30 million-dollar City of Memphis contribution and will leverage over $172 million dollars of additional public and private funding. MHA, in partnership with the City of Memphis, will utilize these funds to:

Develop over 700 units of newly constructed, mixed income housing in the South City revitalization neighborhood.
Build a community center that will contain an early childhood education center.
Build a park with new playground equipment within the neighborhood.
Create Section 3 employment opportunities for residents and business opportunities for minority and women owned businesses.
Businesses within the CNI development area will have the opportunity to apply for a grant to fund a façade rehab to match the aesthetics of the revitalized neighborhood.
Provide eligible homeowners within the South City neighborhood grants to fund up to $15,000 for home repair

Veterans Assisted Supportive Housing (VASH) Program provided Memphis Housing Authority an award of 492 housing vouchers. Results of the program include:

A partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) through which tenant referrals are made to the housing authority;
Housing secured for 390 veteran families find which dramatically reduced veteran homelessness in Shelby County; and
Dedicated VASH housing specialist to work along with the VA to find suitable, accessible housing for veterans with disabilities.

Family Unification Program (FUP) awarded approximately $490,137 to Memphis Housing Authority for 72 housing vouchers. The program serves as a conduit for assisting families for whom the lack of adequate housing is a primary factor in the family’s child or children being placed in foster care or will create a delay in their discharge from foster care. Eligible youth ready to exit foster care also benefit from the FUP. Generally, families pay no more than 40 percent of their adjusted monthly income toward their rent share. Results from this program include:

A partnership formed with the Department of Children’s Services and the Community Alliance for the Homeless;
55 families and/or youth served to reunify or prevent children from entering foster care and to prevent homelessness;
A dedicated-HCV Specialist assigned to meet with FUP-families to identify needs while participating in the FUP program. Families also receive ongoing case management to help them access the resources and services they need to be successful in the FUP program and to become self-sufficient;
Families and youth connected to community services and resources to empower and motivate families to achieve self-sufficiency and to improve their overall quality of lives, such as credit counseling, parenting skills, training, job training and placement assistance and homeownership counseling; and
Close collaborations with FUP partners to ensure compliance with all housing requirements and to ensure successful and continued participation in the housing choice voucher program and in the communities in which they reside.

AmeriCorps service site designation to enhance community engagement strategies and to enable youth served by the Authority to become next generation leaders.

WHAT’S NEXT?
Rental Assistance Demonstration Program (RAD)

RAD is an initiative developed by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that allows Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) to convert projects currently funded under the Public Housing program to independently owned stock that is funded by the Section 8 program, utilizing Project Based Vouchers (PBVs).
MHA, along with its developer BGC Advantage, LLC, will work collaboratively to rehab and modernize over 1,400 units of aged, deteriorating public housing.
The RAD development initiatives will leverage funds from multiple sources including tax credit equity, private mortgage and a small contribution of PHA funds to complete over $250 million dollars of rehab development.

Legends Park Senior (Northeast)

MHA and its developer partner, Pennrose, LLC., will construct a 131-unit, four story, age restricted building designated for residents aged 62 and above.
The building will be situated in the Northeast corner of the Legends Park community and will be in close proximity to grocery stores, medical facilities and community parks.
MHA will pursue multiple funding sources to finance this development. Potential sources will include: HOME funds, National Housing Trust Fund grant, Tennessee Housing Trust Fund grant, Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity and support from philanthropic foundations. The approximate cost of the Senior development is approximately $24 million dollars.

Memphis Housing Strategies (MHS)
Creation of a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Affiliate Organization - , Memphis Housing Authority has created a non-profit real estate affiliate company created by Memphis Housing Authority to pursue projects with fewer federal restrictions. IRS approval of the 501(c)(3) status is pending. MHS’s core business will focus on:

Creating affordable housing opportunities.
Housing special needs populations.
Creating streams of unrestricted revenue that will be used to further community investment initiatives.