HA Item 05 -Update to the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan

Home Browse Search

. Administrative Plan 7/1/2025 Page 10-10 10-II.B. INITIAL PHA ROLE Allowable Moves under Portability A family may move with voucher assistance only to an area where there is at least one PHA administering a voucher program [24 CFR 982.353(b)]. If there is more than one PHA in the area, the initial PHA provides the family with the contact information for the receiving PHAs that serve the area, and the family selects the receiving PHA. The family must inform the initial PHA which receiving PHA it has selected. If the family prefers not to select the receiving PHA, the initial PHA will select the receiving PHA on behalf of the family [24 CFR 982.255(b)]. Applicant families that have been issue vouchers as well as participant families may qualify to lease a unit outside the PHA’s jurisdiction under portability. HUD regulations and PHA policy determine whether a family qualifies. Applicant Families Under HUD regulations, most applicant families qualify to lease a unit outside the PHA’s jurisdiction under portability. However, HUD gives the PHA discretion to deny a portability move by an applicant family for the same two reasons that it may deny any move by a participant family: insufficient funding and grounds for denial or termination of assistance. If a PHA intends to deny a family permission to move under portability due to insufficient funding, the PHA must notify HUD within 10 business days of the determination to deny the move [24 CFR 982.355(e)]. SAHA Policy In determining whether or not to deny an applicant family permission to move under portability because SAHA lacks sufficient funding or has grounds for denying assistance to the family, SAHA will follow the policies established in section 10-I.B of this chapter. If SAHA does deny the move due to insufficient funding, SAHA will notify HUD in writing within 14 calendar days of SAHA’s determination to deny the move. In addition, the initial PHA may establish a policy denying the right to portability to nonresident applicants during the first 12 months after they are admitted to the program [24 CFR 982.353(c)]. SAHA Policy If neither the head of household nor the spouse/cohead of an applicant family had a domicile (legal residence) in SAHA’s jurisdiction at the time that the family’s initial application for assistance was submitted, the family must lease a unit within SAHA’s jurisdiction for at least 12 months before requesting portability. SAHA will consider exceptions to this policy for purposes of reasonable accommodation (see Chapter 2) or reasons related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking. For purposes of homeless individuals and families, the term, “residence,” includes homeless shelters and other dwelling places where homeless people may be living, sleeping or receiving services in the City of Santa Ana. Therefore, homeless individuals and families who qualify for this local preference will qualify as residents. EXHIBIT 1