Two main programs serve Memphis and the rest of Shelby County. The Community Services Agency releases rent appointments online on the first Monday of each month, and you can't get help without a slot. MIFA takes online applications from people with a late notice and a recent crisis.
Call 211 to ask what is open near you.
Last checked: November 4, 2026. Benefits Explorer is a private directory, not a government agency. We do not take applications, provide rent money or decide eligibility. Each program makes its own decisions.
Both depend on funds. If you miss one, try the other, and call 211 for what is open this month.
Rent Help in Memphis
Shelby County Community Services Agency: Rent and Mortgage Assistance
Who it serves: Shelby County residents, including Memphis
Book through its portal, which opens at 8:30 a.m. on the first Monday of the month. Income must be at or below 200% of the poverty guideline: $31,920 a year for one person, $66,000 for four. Bring ID and Social Security cards for everyone in the home and a current lease. The agency warns that anyone asking for payment for these services is a scam.
Read about Shelby County Community Services Agency: Rent and Mortgage Assistance · Phone: 901.222.4200 · Status not confirmed. Call first.
MIFA Housing Stability
Who it serves: Shelby County residents
Rent or mortgage help if you have a late notice and can document a recent crisis or income loss. You can't have received MIFA help in the past 12 months, and first-time applicants get preference. Apply online. MIFA served 1,113 households in its 2026 fiscal year, and help depends on funds and demand. Help Desk: (901) 529-4538.
Read about MIFA Housing Stability · Phone: (901) 527-0208 · Status not confirmed. Call first.
Hope House
Who it serves: Memphis families. Its focus is children and families affected by HIV and poverty.
Reports emergency rental help for 127 families in the past year. Its social services page says adult clients must be 18 or older and have a Ryan White card, with referral through a medical case manager. That page lists emergency housing assistance but does not say whether the card rule covers rent help, so ask Yolanda at (901) 565-5645 and leave a message. Office at 23 S. Idlewild Street.
Read about Hope House · Phone: (901) 272-2702, ext. 206 · Status not confirmed. Call first.
Facing Eviction in Memphis?
Eviction cases, called forcible entry and detainer, go to Shelby County General Sessions Civil Court. The Civil Division is at 140 Adams, Room 106, in the Judge D'Army Bailey Courthouse. The Civil Division's number is 901-222-3400. Contact legal aid early. Read Shelby County General Sessions: Civil Division
Free or low-cost legal help: Memphis Area Legal Services. Free civil legal help in Fayette, Lauderdale, Shelby and Tipton counties. Toll free: (866) 361-9001. Apply through its website. Memphis Area Legal Services website · Phone: (901) 523-8822
See general eviction deadlines in Tennessee. Always go by what your papers say.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Don't ignore a notice or court papers, because eviction deadlines can be short. Contact legal aid about your case.
Avoid Rent Help Scams
Be careful with anyone who asks for a fee to apply or promises approval. Use the official links on this page, and don't share your Social Security number or bank details with a site you reached from an ad or a text.
More Help in Tennessee
- Rent assistance across Tennessee
- Eviction help: what to do today
- Emergency housing: what to do tonight
- Security deposit help
- Housing authorities in Tennessee
- Food pantries in Tennessee
- Our full rent assistance guide
Memphis Rent Assistance Questions
How do I get a CSA rental assistance appointment in Memphis?
Use the Rent and Mortgage Application Request Portal at 8:30 a.m. on the first Monday of the month. The agency says it can't help you without an appointment slot.