VoucherMatch

Section 8 in Memphis, TN, TN: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities

Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area. FY2026 Fair Market Rents, active voucher counts, the housing authorities that run the program here, and whether landlords can legally refuse a voucher. Every figure comes straight from HUD data.

2-bedroom FMR (FY2026)
$1,186
HUD
Active vouchers
9,996
93% utilized
Housing authorities
10
serving this metro
Voucher protection
State preempts
Tennessee has no source-of-income protection

Fair Market Rent by bedroom count

HUD-published metro FMR for FY2026. Payment standards, the amount a PHA actually pays, are set between 90% and 110% of FMR at each PHA's discretion.

BedroomsFMRPayment standard (90 to 110%)
Efficiency (studio)$986$887 to $1,085
1-bedroom$1,073$966 to $1,180
2-bedroom$1,186$1,067 to $1,305
3-bedroom$1,422$1,280 to $1,564
4-bedroom$1,570$1,413 to $1,727

Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Memphis covers up to $1,186 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,067 to $1,305.

What will a voucher pay in Memphis?

Payment standards by neighborhood, bedroom size, and ZIP code, with the governing PHA for each area.

Browse Memphis payment standards

Voucher demand in this metro

Active vouchers
9,996
Occupied
9,247
Utilization
93%

Aggregated from HUD Public Housing Authority data (FY2026). High utilization means most vouchers issued here are already placed in a unit, so landlords who accept vouchers fill vacancies from a deep, reliable applicant pool.

Housing authorities serving Memphis

10 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Apply with (or contact) the PHA that covers the specific address.

  • Memphis Housing Authority (MHA)

    Memphis, TN · TN001 · 9,408 HCV units

    Waitlist closed

    MHA Section 8 HCV waitlist status varies — MHA opens periodically by lottery. Check memphisha.org or call (901) 544-1100. Serves Memphis city limits.

    (901) 544-1100Apply / waitlist info →PHA website →

  • West Memphis Housing Authority

    West Memphis , AR · AR024 · 528 HCV units

    Status unknown
    8707353520

  • Mississippi Regional Housing Authority II (MRHA II)

    Oxford, MS · MS016 · 370 HCV units

    Waitlist closed

    MRHA II (Oxford) administers Housing Choice Vouchers for DeSoto County as part of its north Mississippi region. Waitlist status varies — call (662) 236-3645.

    (662) 236-3645

  • Earle Housing Authority

    West Memphis , AR · AR264 · 60 HCV units

    Status unknown
    8707353520

  • Millington Housing Authority

    Millington , TN · TN045

    Status unknown
    9018723677

  • the Housing Authority of the City of Senatobia

    Senatobia , MS · MS090

    Status unknown
    6625625071

  • the Housing Authority of the City of Holly Springs

    Holly Springs , MS · MS062

    Status unknown
    6012522971

  • Housing Authority of the City of Earle

    Earle , AR · AR064

    Status unknown
    8707928733

  • Covington Housing Authority

    Covington , TN · TN041

    Status unknown
    9014766135

  • Gallaway Housing Authority

    Gallaway , TN · TN084

    Status unknown
    9018678101

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Memphis, TN?

Yes. Tennessee law blocks local governments from requiring voucher acceptance, so landlords in Memphis, TN can legally decline Section 8 applicants. Listing on a voucher-friendly marketplace is the fastest way to find the landlords who do accept.

Tennessee has no source-of-income protection

Tennessee has NO statewide source-of-income protection. The state legislature has been aggressive about preempting local anti-discrimination measures. Landlords can legally decline voucher applicants. Voucher tenants remain a solid financial option — guaranteed monthly rent, often above local market — but the choice is voluntary.

View statute →

Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.

Counties in the Memphis metro

County pages show the local voucher count, the housing authorities that serve it, and ZIP-level rent limits where HUD publishes them.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in Memphis?
In the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro, the FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,186 per month. A housing authority usually sets its Section 8 payment standard between 90% and 110% of that, roughly $1,067 to $1,305 in gross rent before the tenant's utility allowance.
What are the FY2026 Fair Market Rents in Memphis?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro, by bedroom size: studio $986, 1-bedroom $1,073, 2-bedroom $1,186, 3-bedroom $1,422, 4-bedroom $1,570. Section 8 payment standards are based on these figures.
How do I apply for Section 8 in Memphis?
Section 8 in Memphis is administered by Memphis Housing Authority (MHA), West Memphis Housing Authority, Mississippi Regional Housing Authority II (MRHA II) and other local housing authorities. Apply through the authority whose jurisdiction covers the address, as each runs its own waitlist. Once you have a voucher, search voucher-friendly units and apply on VoucherMatch.

Find Section 8 apartments in Memphis

VoucherMatch connects voucher holders with landlords who accept Section 8, and it is free for renters. Landlords: listings here reach applicants whose voucher already covers the rent above.

Browse voucher-friendly listingsList your unit free

Other Section 8 markets in TN

Rent limits from HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.