Creating Safe Housing Without Discrimination: Drug Screening Best Practices for Non-Profits in Tennessee

Non-profit housing providers in Tennessee face a familiar but delicate challenge: maintaining safe, stable housing environments without unfairly excluding the very populations they exist to serve.

In 2026, Tennessee non-profits must balance resident safety, community trust, and operational realities—while complying with Fair Housing principles, protecting individuals in recovery, and meeting funder and program requirements.

Drug screening can support safety when used thoughtfully. When applied incorrectly, it can create legal risk, undermine mission goals, and erode trust.

This guide outlines drug screening best practices for non-profit housing programs in Tennessee, with a focus on safety, compliance, and dignity.

Why Drug Screening Requires Careful Design in Tennessee

Tennessee housing providers operate under a mix of:

• Federal Fair Housing protections

• State landlord-tenant laws

• Program-specific requirements (recovery housing, shelters, HUD-assisted units)

Individuals with a history of substance use disorder—especially those actively in recovery—are often protected under Fair Housing guidance. At the same time, housing providers retain the right to:

• Address illegal drug activity

• Respond to behavior that threatens others’ safety

• Maintain drug-free environments where sobriety is a program condition

The key distinction is behavior versus status. Screening must be tied to safety and program purpose—not stigma or assumptions.

Housing Type Determines What Drug Screening Is Appropriate

One-size-fits-all screening policies create the greatest compliance risk. In Tennessee, drug testing practices should be designed by housing model, not applied across an entire organization.

Sober Living & Recovery Housing: Screening as a Program Requirement

In sober living and recovery housing, drug screening is often central to the program’s mission.

These programs are designed to:

• Maintain drug-free environments

• Support residents in recovery

• Reduce relapse risk within communal housing

• Reinforce accountability and structure

Best practices in Tennessee recovery housing include:

• Mandatory drug testing disclosed before intake

• Random and scheduled testing

• Clear consequences tied to program rules

• Consistent documentation

Because sobriety is a condition of residency, drug testing in this context is generally defensible when policies are transparent and applied consistently.

Homeless Shelters & Transitional Housing: Safety Without Exclusion

Homeless shelters and transitional programs serve diverse populations, including:

• Families with children

• Individuals in early recovery

• People with untreated substance use disorders

• Survivors of trauma

In Tennessee, shelters often prioritize access and stabilization, which means drug screening must be used carefully.

Common shelter best practices:

• Avoid blanket testing at entry

• Use screening for specific program tracks (family housing, recovery-focused beds)

• Respond to safety incidents or reasonable suspicion

• Focus on behavior and conduct rather than substance history

• Pair screening with referrals and supportive services

Drug testing in shelters should support safe communal living, not function as a barrier to shelter.

Affordable & Supportive Housing: Where Caution Is Critical

General affordable housing and supportive housing programs require the most restraint when it comes to drug screening.

Residents in these programs are tenants, not treatment participants. In Tennessee, overly broad testing policies may conflict with Fair Housing protections.

Best practices include:

• Screening for behavior that threatens safety (violence, drug distribution)

• Avoiding mandatory drug testing as a condition of tenancy

• Applying rules consistently across residents

• Ensuring due process and documentation

Housing providers should work closely with legal counsel before implementing drug screening in these settings.

Public & HUD-Assisted Housing in Tennessee

Public housing authorities and HUD-assisted programs may screen for:

• Illegal drug use

• Alcohol abuse that threatens the health or safety of others

• Drug-related criminal activity

However, screening and enforcement must comply with HUD regulations, procedural safeguards, and due process requirements.

Even in public housing, testing alone is rarely sufficient. Decisions should be supported by documented behavior and policy alignment.

Best Practices for Drug Screening Without Discrimination

Successful Tennessee non-profits tend to follow these core principles:

1. Match Screening to Program Purpose

Drug screening should only be used where it directly supports the housing model’s goals.

2. Focus on Conduct, Not Medical History

Policies should address behavior that impacts safety—not past substance use alone.

3. Use the Least Intrusive Method Necessary

When screening is appropriate:

• Saliva testing can reduce privacy concerns and tampering

• Urine testing may be appropriate in structured recovery programs

• Dip cards can support cost-effective screening where justified

4. Be Transparent With Residents

Clear communication reduces disputes and builds trust.

5. Document Policies and Decisions

Documentation is essential for defending screening practices during audits, complaints, or funding reviews.

Common Mistakes Tennessee Non-Profits Should Avoid

• Applying sober-living testing rules to general housing

• Denying housing based solely on past substance use

• Treating recovery as a liability rather than a protected status

• Inconsistent enforcement across similar residents

• Using drug tests without a documented safety rationale

These missteps can undermine both compliance and mission.

How DrugScreens.com Supports Tennessee Non-Profits

DrugScreens.com works with Tennessee housing providers to supply CLIA-waived, FDA-cleared urine cups, saliva drug test kits, and dip cards suited to different housing models.

We help non-profits:

• Align testing methods with program purpose

• Reduce tampering and disputes

• Support resident and staff safety

• Maintain consistent, defensible screening protocols

The Bottom Line

In Tennessee, safe housing and fair housing can—and must—coexist.

In 2026, non-profit housing providers that:

• Design screening policies by housing type

• Respect protections for individuals in recovery

• Focus on safety-related behavior

• Use appropriate testing tools

are best positioned to protect residents, staff, and the mission they serve.