It’s the Law

Metro Action’s Assistance Portal Is Closed

What Now?

In March 2021, Nashville’s Metropolitan Action Commission (MAC) opened its online portal for Davidson County residents seeking rental assistance. With varying degrees of success, speed, and efficiency, over the following 15 months MAC would distribute nearly $60 million in rental assistance.

That online portal is now closed to new applications. MAC announced in May that as of June 30, 2022, the portal would be closed to new applications, as they expected the pending applications would exhaust their remaining funds. What does that mean for Nashville landlords and their residents?

MAC has affirmed that they remain fully staffed and able to continue to process and approve the applications that are already pending. Their indication in May was that the current applications and any new applications received in the month of June will “obligate the remaining funds allotted to the city by the U.S. Treasury.” It remains unclear what will happen to pending applications if funding runs out before they are all satisfied.

For residents who do not have a pending MAC application, MAC has indicated in its press releases

NATHAN LYBARGER

Hall & Associates and announcements that beginning July 1, 2022, the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) will begin accepting applications for rental assistance from Davidson County residents until THDA’s funds are exhausted. Although THDA’s online portal hasn’t been updated as of this writing, MAC has repeatedly made the assertion that it soon will be updated.

MAC and THDA are two completely separate agencies. In order to receive assistance funding from THDA, Davidson County landlords will need to establish an account through THDA, even if they’ve already done so with Metro. There is a link at https://thda.org that can direct landlords (and residents) in that process.

What does all this mean for pending evictions in Davidson County? The Housing Resource Diversionary Court (HRDC) was created in advance of MAC’s online portal in an effort to connect landlords and tenants to these assistance funds. The General Sessions judges entered an order shortly thereafter indicating that any non-payment eviction with a pending MAC application was to be transferred to the HRDC. This order remains in place. The Court will continue to meet, although less frequently, with current dates being set as far out as October. This is in anticipation of approval and payment of MAC’s pending applications. As always, it is best to file your detainer warrant immediately to avoid any further delays. Please note, cases where MAC has previously made payment and the resident has again failed to keep up with their rent will not be transferred to the HRDC.

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