Chartered in 1966, the Portland Housing Authority (PHA) began serving the City of Portland, Tennessee and in 1969 serving the City of Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee. We provide public housing assistance to low income residents and families with safe, affordable housing while positively impacting lives and bettering the communities we serve. The PHA currently manages 120 housing units in the Macon and Sumner County area. There are 90 units in Portland, Tennessee and 30 units in Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee.

The first phase of apartment units in Portland, Tennessee were built in 1967 as growth in the community required a demand for affordable housing options. Many community leaders including the City of Portland’s Mayor at the time, Fred White, W.P. Stovall Chairman of the PHA Board, Douglas Lear Vice-Chairman, Harold Perdue, Dolphus Gregory, and Everette Alderson Commissioners of the Board and W.S. Chaffin, Jr., Executive Director of the PHA worked diligently to create affordable housing to those in need. These community leaders along with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) made this possible through the “Urban Renewal Project” and the Portland Housing Authority’s vision was turned into a reality. The first 40 housing units were built on Potts Avenue, Roark Drive, and Oak Street. These apartment units were named “Everette Alderson Heights” and managed under the direction of the Portland Housing Authority staff.

After success with Everette Alderson Heights and the continued need for additional housing in the Portland area, the second development of apartment units were approved and built in 1971. These apartment units were built on Donoho Drive, consisting of 50 housing units and was later named “Raymond Enders Apartments”.

The Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee (RBS) housing units were constructed in 1973 after a tragic flooding event that took place on June 23, 1969. After the flood, many locals were displaced and without housing, businesses washed away, and the community left in despair. The Portland Housing Authority worked with the City of Red Boiling Spring’s Mayor at the time, Willis Knight, W.P. Stovall Chairman of the PHA Board, Douglas Lear Vice-Chairman, Harold Perdue, Dolphus Gregory, and Everette McCullough Commissioners of the Board to establish housing units. At first, land owners Dayton and Anna Chitwood, along with oversight from the Portland Housing Authority, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Agency (HUD) worked together to provide housing trailers to flood victims in need. A short time later the Portland Housing Authority acquired the land and housing trailers from Mr. and Mrs. Chitwood and began to manage the property. In 1971, these housing trailers were considered no longer feasible to live in. The housing trailers were then sold and the Portland Housing Authority built permanent housing units in their place. These apartment units were named after two young girls who lost their lives in the flood of 1969, sisters, Renah Louise Bilbrey, and Jennifer Rae Bilbrey, daughters of Grady and Frances Bilbrey. To honor this family and these girls, the Portland Housing Authority dedicated the name of the newly constructed housing units as “Jennifer Renah Heights” and today consists of 30 housing units located on Willis Knight Drive and Valley View Drive in the Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee area.