Rent and Utility Assistance in Sumner County: A Step-by-Step Guide

Sumner County residents seeking rent or utility assistance should begin by dialing 211, texting their ZIP code to 898-211 or using United Way of Sumner County’s online resource search. For energy-bill help, check Tennessee’s LIHEAP program through the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. For longer-term rental support, review THDA Housing Choice Voucher wait-list information and TennesseeHousingSearch.org. Have your lease, utility bill, identification, income records and any shutoff or eviction notice available.

If you are behind on rent, facing a utility shutoff or worried about losing housing in Sumner County, start with 211. United Way of Sumner County provides free local referrals for housing, utilities, food, legal help and other emergency needs. You can dial 211, text your ZIP code to 898-211, or search the regional resource database online. Phone specialists are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time, while the online referral service is available around the clock.

For help with heating or cooling bills, check Tennessee’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, commonly called LIHEAP. The Tennessee Housing Development Agency administers the program through local agencies serving all 95 Tennessee counties. For longer-term rental support, check the Tennessee Housing Development Agency’s Housing Choice Voucher information and TennesseeHousingSearch.org.

Where to start if you need help now

Use this order if your need is urgent:

1. Call your utility provider if you have a shutoff notice or need a payment arrangement.
2. Contact 211 for current Sumner County rent, utility, shelter and eviction-prevention referrals.
3. Review LIHEAP through the Tennessee Housing Development Agency for eligible energy-bill assistance.
4. Contact your landlord in writing to request a payment arrangement and keep copies of all communication.
5. Seek legal help promptly if you have received court papers or an eviction notice.

Do not wait until the day service is disconnected or a court date arrives. Assistance programs may have limited funding, documentation requirements or application queues.

Step 1: Contact 211 for current Sumner County referrals

United Way of Sumner County identifies 211 as a free and confidential referral service for local resources. Its housing-related referrals may include rental assistance, utility assistance, homelessness services, food programs, transportation and legal resources. The organization also provides a searchable online database by county or ZIP code.

How to reach 211

• Dial: 211
• Text: Send your ZIP code to 898-211
• If 211 does not connect: Call 615-279-1410 or 1-800-318-9335.
• Online: Use the United Way resource search and filter by housing, utility assistance, rent help or homelessness services.

When you contact 211, explain the exact problem: past-due rent, a current eviction notice, a utility shutoff date, a deposit requirement, homelessness or a need for affordable housing. Ask which programs are currently accepting applications in your ZIP code.

The Sumner County government website also maintains a resident-resources page listing local municipal contacts and utility providers. It is useful for identifying the correct city or utility system, but it is not a single countywide rent-assistance application.

Step 2: Apply for utility assistance through Tennessee LIHEAP

LIHEAP is a federally funded program administered in Tennessee by THDA through a network of local agencies. THDA describes LIHEAP as one-time help with immediate home-energy costs, subject to eligibility and available funding. Current THDA materials identify income eligibility requirements and provide 2026 application forms and program documents.

THDA’s current LIHEAP information says eligible households are generally those at or below 60% of Tennessee’s State Median Income, with income limits determined by household size. The program is intended for home-energy expenses, not general rent. A household that rents may still qualify if it is responsible for an eligible utility expense.

How to apply

1. Visit THDA’s current LIHEAP application portal from its official LIHEAP page.
2. Review the current income-limit chart and supporting-document requirements.
3. Complete the online application and upload requested documentation.
4. If you need help, contact the local LIHEAP agency serving Sumner County through the instructions on THDA’s page.
5. Keep your application confirmation, copies of documents and utility account information.

THDA’s current public contact page lists 615-815-2200 for general information and 615-815-2169 for rental-assistance questions.

Documents to prepare for LIHEAP

The exact documents requested may vary, so follow the current application instructions. Prepare digital or paper copies of:

• Photo identification for the applicant and household members, if requested
• Social Security numbers or other information required by the application
• Proof of income for household members
• A recent utility bill showing the account number and service address
• A shutoff notice or past-due notice, if applicable
• Proof of disability, age or a young child in the household, if seeking priority consideration
• A landlord agreement or zero-income form if THDA’s current application requires it for your situation

THDA’s 2026 forms page includes zero-income, landlord-agreement, self-employment and disability-verification forms.

Step 3: Look for longer-term rental assistance

Rental assistance is different from LIHEAP. LIHEAP addresses eligible home-energy costs, while rental programs may help with housing costs over a longer period or connect households with income-based housing.

THDA Housing Choice Voucher assistance

THDA administers Housing Choice Voucher assistance in many Tennessee counties, including counties outside large metropolitan areas. Applications are accepted only when a county waiting list is open. THDA says applications are free and should be submitted only through its official website. Be cautious of websites that charge a fee to apply for a voucher.

To check:

1. Open THDA’s Help for Renters page.
2. Review the current waiting-list openings and closings.
3. If the Sumner County list is open, follow the official pre-application instructions.
4. Save the confirmation number after submitting an application.
5. Update your mailing address, phone number and email if your contact information changes.

THDA warns that wait times can vary widely and that it cannot provide an applicant’s position number or estimated wait time.

Search for affordable rentals

TennesseeHousingSearch.org is a free statewide rental-search tool that allows users to search by city, county or ZIP code. The site includes apartments and homes and provides a toll-free help number, 1-877-428-8844, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central time.

Use the search filters to look for:

• Lower-rent units
• Accessible housing
• Emergency or transitional housing resources
• Units that may accept Housing Choice Vouchers
• Properties in Gallatin, Hendersonville, Portland, White House, Westmoreland or another Sumner County community

A listing on a housing-search site does not guarantee that a unit is available, affordable for your household or accepting applications. Contact the property directly and ask about current rent, deposits, screening requirements, utilities and wait-list status.

Step 4: Contact your utility provider before disconnection

Call the company shown on your bill even if you are also applying for assistance. Ask whether it offers:

• A payment arrangement
• A due-date extension
• A temporary installment plan
• A budget-billing option
• A medical or life-support notification process
• A local charitable-assistance referral
• Reconnection requirements and the exact amount needed to restore service

Sumner County’s resident-resources page lists several local utility contacts. For Gallatin, it lists Gallatin Electric at 615-452-5152 and Gallatin Public Utilities at 615-451-5922. It also lists other providers serving communities around the county, including Cumberland Electric, Nashville Electric Service, Piedmont Natural Gas, Tri-County Electric and municipal utility systems. Verify the provider for your service address before calling.

If your utility account is in a landlord’s name, ask the utility and landlord what documentation is required. Do not assume that an assistance payment will prevent disconnection unless the utility confirms it.

Step 5: Get help if you face eviction or homelessness

If you have received a summons, court notice or written eviction notice, contact legal assistance quickly. The Tennessee Department of Human Services lists the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands at 1-800-238-1443 for people who may qualify for free legal help.

You can also ask 211 for current homelessness-prevention, shelter and emergency-housing referrals. HUD advises people at risk of homelessness to dial 211 and press 6 for homeless services.

If children in your household are temporarily displaced, contact Sumner County Schools’ Family Resource Center. United Way of Sumner County says the school system can connect families with assistance for students experiencing displacement or homelessness, including help related to school transportation and immediate needs.

Application checklist

Before contacting an agency, gather:

• Government-issued identification
• Current address and ZIP code
• Names and birth dates of household members
• Recent pay stubs or other income records
• Benefit letters, pension records or unemployment information
• Current lease or landlord contact information
• Utility bill and account number
• Shutoff notice, eviction notice or court document
• Bank or asset information if requested
• Disability, veteran, senior or dependent-child documentation when relevant
• A working phone number, email address and mailing address

Keep a written log of the agency name, date, person contacted, application number, documents submitted and next step.

What seniors and families should know

Tell the intake specialist if the household includes an older adult, a person with a disability, a young child, someone using medically necessary electrical equipment or a family facing homelessness. Those details may affect referral priority or the type of program available, but they do not guarantee assistance.

Families with school-age children should also notify the school if housing becomes unstable. Schools can connect displaced students with education and support services even when a family is staying temporarily with relatives or friends.

Official next steps

• Start with 211 for current local rent, utility and housing referrals.
• Apply through the official THDA LIHEAP page for energy assistance.
• Check THDA’s Housing Choice Voucher wait-list page for longer-term rental assistance.
• Search TennesseeHousingSearch.org for affordable rental listings.
• Call the utility provider before the shutoff date.
• Contact Legal Aid if eviction paperwork has been served.

Last verified: August 15, 2026. This guide was checked against Sumner County Government, United Way of Sumner County, Tennessee Housing Development Agency, Tennessee Department of Human Services, HUD and TennesseeHousingSearch.org. Program availability, funding, wait lists and local nonprofit referrals can change; check the official destination before submitting documents or relying on assistance.

Sources and distinctions

The official agencies above administer or direct readers to programs. United Way of Sumner County provides referrals and benefit-navigation services. Sumner County Government provides local resident and utility contacts. THDA administers or coordinates state housing and energy-assistance programs. HUD and Tennessee Legal Aid resources provide broader housing and legal-navigation information. None of these sources guarantees that an applicant will receive assistance.