Assistance In Athens, Tennessee

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Here is the truth about housing assistance in Athens, Tennessee - for all intents and purposes there is none. Section 8 housing is full and has a long waiting list with very strict criteria for who will qualify. So your first priority with any income you receive is to pay your rent. If you live in a place that accepts rent weekly then if you get paid every two weeks then pay for two weeks of rent. If you get paid once a month then pay for 1 month's rent. There is no conceivable reason I can think of not to pay for enough rent to cover you till your next check comes in. If your rent/mortgage is paid monthly then if you are paid weekly then put aside 1/4 of your payment in an account specifically for housing. If every two weeks then 1/2 and so on.

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The second priority is your utilities if you pay for those separately. There is some assistance available to pay for utilities but you can only receive that once every 12 months. And that money goes quickly. So you should not count on it to get you through. Contact your local utility and request "levelized billing." This will provide you with a monthly bill that is very close to the same every month. Again if you get paid weekly put aside 1/4; every 2 weeks then 1/2 and so on.

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Your next priority is your car. You will need it to get to and from work and for other necessities. It is important then to have enough money for gas and to keep the car repaired. Occasionally you can find assistance for car repairs and gasoline. Largely this responsibility will fall to the car owner. 

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When it comes to food, if you're short of money, don't spend it on food. There are several food banks and places offering hot meals for free. Go get free food and save your money for your other priorities. 

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Click on the PDF to download the guide of local assistance resources or click on the QR to view the more current online document. 

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