HCVP participants have the option of moving not only within their home PHA’s jurisdiction but also to another PHA’s jurisdiction. Under this portability process, an HCVP participant can have the voucher “ported” to a new PHA jurisdiction that will issue the voucher and allow the participant to look for housing and apply the voucher in the new area.
The procedures for this are spelled out in 24 C.F.R. § 982.355(c). In brief, the “initial” PHA informs the participant on how to reach the “receiving” PHA in the area the participant wants to move to. The participant must then contact the receiving PHA. If the receiving PHA intends to “bill” the voucher, the PHA will only administer the voucher, billing the costs back to the initial PHA. Under this method the initial PHA remains financially liable for the voucher and retains, along with the receiving PHA, the right to deny or terminate assistance to the family.1 If the receiving PHA intends to “absorb” the voucher, the receiving PHA assumes the full financial liability and becomes the sole PHA able to deny or terminate assistance to the family. The “absorbing” process essentially transforms the receiving PHA into a new initial PHA for the participant.
- 124 C.F.R. §§ 982.552, .553.