HCV Participants HCV Transferring (Porting) Vouchers to Jacksonville HCV Utility Allowances

HCV Transferring (Porting) Vouchers to Jacksonville

Moving to Jacksonville with a Voucher from Another Housing Authority
JH's Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program allows for families or individuals with a voucher from another housing authority to transfer their voucher to Jacksonville. This process is called "porting in" to JH. The process of transferring a voucher from one city to another varies, depending on a number of factors.

This page provides a general summary of information provided in JH's HCV Program Administrative Plan regarding porting in to JH's jurisdiction.

Starting the Porting In Process
The process begins when a Voucher Holder notifies JH and their current housing authority (also called their "initial housing authority") that they want to move to Jacksonville. The initial housing authority must then forward the following documents to JH:

Letter of Introduction
HUD 52665 Family Portability Information Form
HUD 50058 Form
Copies of supporting income verification documents
Voucher Holder's current voucher (the voucher must not expire before 60 days or the Voucher Holder will be referred back to their initial housing authority)
Family contact information, including a valid phone number and address

These documents should be mailed to:
Port In Team Jacksonville Housing's Housing Choice Voucher Program
1300 Broad Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202

Email: Portability@jaxha.org

Or faxed to: 904-630-3871

Please allow 10-15 business days for JH to receive all required documents and follow up with your initial housing authority to find out the status of your paperwork.

Portability Application
Once JH receives all appropriate documents, HCV Program staff will mail the Voucher Holder an appointment letter for an entrance interview. All adult household members, age 18 or older, must attend and bring the following documents so that a JH representative can conduct the entrance interview:

Current valid photo identification
Birth certificates for all household members
Social Security cards for all household members
Marriage License, Divorce Decree and/or Court Award Custody Letters, if applicable

In addition, the family may be required to provide documentation of their household (all family members) income.

Eligibility Screening
JH will conduct a criminal background check on all family members 18 years and older if the family's initial housing authority did not conduct a criminal background check or if the criminal background check is more than 120 days old.

JH may reject a portability application if there is evidence of violent and/or drug-related criminal activity, serious lease violations and outstanding balances owed to the initial housing authority or a previous Property Owner. If a member of the household fails the criminal background check or JH determines that the family is not eligible, the portability application will be withdrawn and the family or individual may be subject to termination from the HCV Program.

If the household's application is approved, JH will issue a voucher with the same expiration date as the one from the initial housing authority. Again, if the initial voucher will expire before 60 days have passed, JH will not approve a portability application.

Briefing Session
Once the Voucher Holder's eligibility has been verified, the porting family or individual must attend a briefing session to receive their moving papers including a Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) packet and a JH voucher.

Housing Search
In order to use their voucher in Jacksonville, the Voucher Holder must locate a unit and submit an RFTA packet. A family's or individual's JH voucher expires on the same date as their voucher from the initial housing authority. If the Voucher Holder does not find a unit within the allotted time period, the voucher will be withdrawn and in certain cases, the family or individual can lose their voucher. In some cases, explained in JH's HCV Program Administrative Plan, JH will grant an extension.

Inspection and Rent Reasonableness
JH will schedule an inspection upon receipt of a tenant's RFTA packet. After the unit passes inspection, the rent is negotiated and a lease between the Owner and tenant is signed, the Voucher Holder can move into their new home.

Completing the Process
Once the Voucher Holder signs a lease, JH will notify the initial housing authority so that they can complete the necessary paperwork and ensure consistent payments to the new Property Owner/Manager.