Freedom of choice is a hallmark of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. In general, HUD regulations impose few restrictions on where families may live or move with HCV program assistance.
Families assisted under OCHA’s HCV program, may move from their current unit to another unit within OCHA’s jurisdiction, or to a unit outside OCHA’s jurisdiction under portability.
Within the limitations of the regulations a participant family or an applicant family that has been issued a voucher has the right to use tenant-based voucher assistance to lease a unit anywhere in the United States providing that the unit is located within the jurisdiction of a PHA administering a tenant-based voucher program [24 CFR 982.353(b)]. The process by which a family obtains a voucher from one PHA and uses it to lease a unit in the jurisdiction of another PHA is known as portability. The first PHA is called the initial PHA. The second is called the receiving PHA.
The receiving PHA has the option of (1) administering the family’s voucher for the initial PHA or (2) absorbing the family into its own program. Under the first option, the receiving PHA bills the initial PHA for the family’s housing assistance payments and the fees for administering the family’s voucher. Under the second option, the receiving PHA pays for the family’s assistance out of its own program funds, and the initial PHA has no further relationship with the family.
The same PHA commonly acts as the initial PHA for some families and as the receiving PHA for others. Each role involves different responsibilities. OCHA will follow the rules and policies in section 10-II.B of its Administrative Plan when it is acting as the initial PHA for a family. It will follow the rules and policies in section 10-II.C of its Administrative Plan when it is acting as the receiving PHA for a family.
Families wising to move into Orange County Housing Authority’s Jurisdiction from another PHA may contact:
Erik Pelayo Last name A-K Phone: (714) 480-2725
email: erik.pelayo@occr.ocgov.com
Luis Valdovinos Last name L-Z Phone: (714) 480-2989
email: luis.valdovinos@occr.ocgov.com
Portability Fax Line: (714) 550-5735
Portability Email: ochaportability@occr.ocgov.com
For instructions and forms required to either move into (Port-in) or move out of (Port-out) Orange County Housing Authority's jurisdiction, please click the link below:
Portability Port-In Instructions
Portability Port-Out Instructions
