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Fair Housing Council report accuses Memphis Housing Authority of poor communication and wrongful voucher terminations

Shelby County Board of Commissioners · March 25, 2026

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Summary

The Fair Housing Council of Metropolitan Memphis told commissioners it documented multiple failures at the Memphis Housing Authority, including poor customer access, delayed responses, and voucher terminations without notice; commissioners requested the county attorney follow up and indicated they would notify the city council and HUD.

Shanice Anthony, executive director of the Fair Housing Council of Metropolitan Memphis, presented a special report to county commissioners March 25 alleging a pattern of administrative failures at the Memphis Housing Authority (MHA).

Anthony said the council received roughly 150 calls before the report's release and had recorded many additional contacts since. She described multiple types of failures: long delays in responding to tenant inquiries; inaccessibility of records (some files reportedly viewable only in-person at MHA offices); tenants told their vouchers had been terminated without documented notice, grounds or inspection records; and practices the council judged inconsistent with fair-housing obligations. "We've received clients who ... had their vouchers terminated with absolutely no notice and no grounds," Anthony said.

Commissioners pressed for action. Commissioner Caswell and others urged raising the matter with city council and federal HUD; Commissioner Sugarman requested that the county attorney outline options for the commission to promote oversight, transparency and accountability. Jordan Gale Kelly of the County Attorney's Office said staff would work with commissioners to assess legal options. Chairwoman Avant asked that the attorney's office and the chair prepare a letter to the city council and requested the county attorney coordinate next steps.

Anthony said the report had been distributed to city and county elected officials, congressional representatives and HUD. She asked the commission to consider funding and partnership support for the Fair Housing Council's work; the council said it is currently funded primarily by HUD grants and limited city CDBG support and would welcome county funding to continue testing and enforcement.

The committee did not take a formal vote beyond requests for follow-up; commissioners directed the county attorney's office to coordinate next steps and an outreach letter to the city council and HUD.