HRS Residents Receiving Free Rent Through THDA Grant

The Tennessee Housing Development Agency will be paying rent for many Highland Residential Services residents starting next week.

Director of Operations Chris Cassetty said the state organization received enough federal grant money to offer the assistance for at least a year.

“It’s certainly huge for our tenants, but it’s a big deal for us, too,” Cassetty said. “Because instead of having tenants that for whatever reason can’t pay their rent for a month and maybe start a eviction process, it takes all that away from us.”

Cassetty said THDA struggled working with individual tenants, so the agency started working with local housing authorities. Cassetty said most residents have already signed the authorization contract in order to take advantage.

“They’ve had the money for a while, and they were just trying to let tenants apply through their website and truthfully, they were not having much luck reaching people,” Cassetty said. “So, I think they changed the tactics. We probably found out about it in early November or late October, and I just think this is a different tactic to spend the grant money.”

Cassetty said the rent assistance expands further than the residents of Highlands. Cassetty said low-income tenants renting privately could also be eligible. Cassetty said renters that have not had the opportunity can contact Highlands Residential Services.