Moving with rental assistance

Moving With Rental Assistance
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
There may come a time when you want to move to another rental unit, either here in DCA's jurisdiction or in an area served by a different housing authority. Before relocating you should consider factors that can affect your decision; once you choose to move, follow the procedures outlined below. Failure to comply will jeopardize your ability to benefit from continued rental assistance.
DCA's voucher jurisdiction covers most of Georgia except for the following counties: Bibb, Chatham, Clayton, Cobb, Dekalb, Fulton, Glynn, Muscogee, Richmond and Sumter. These counties are served by local housing authorities with their own voucher program. Due to budget constraints DCA has established policies limiting applicants' and participants' ability to port outside our jurisdiction. For information on living in these counties or in another state, see the "Portability" section below.
Procedures for Moving:
Current program participants must fulfill the initial term of the lease before moving and must not be in breach of any other lease obligations
Contact the DCA Regional Office to confirm your status
Before moving out of the unit or terminating the lease you must provide DCA with a copy of written notice given to the landlord, which must be in accordance with the terms of your lease (usually a minimum of 30 days)
Complete any paperwork we send to update your file
Attend a briefing to receive a new voucher
Submit an inspection request form to schedule an inspection of the new unit
Restrictions:
Applicants who did not claim a local preference when entering our waiting list or continuing Program participants may only move to a DCA county with a payment standard comparable to or less than the one where they now reside (see attachment)
Applicants who claimed a local preference when entering our waiting list must initially rent a unit in the county where they received their voucher. You cannot use your voucher in a different county or jurisdiction until you have been a participant for one year.

If you lived in a different jurisdiction when you entered our waiting list you must reside in the county of application or in a county with a payment standard comparable to or less than that county for one year (see attachment)
You must be current on all monies owed DCA in order to relocate within DCA's jurisdiction
Portability:
Portability is the feature that allows eligible voucher holders to move from one jurisdiction to another. It may be possible for you to relocate to a different area that has a housing authority offering the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
If you wish to port to a different jurisdiction the following restrictions apply:
You can only use your DCA voucher in a different jurisdiction with a payment standard less than the one where you now reside or the receiving housing authority must agree to "absorb" your voucher
The new housing authority's policy and procedures will apply, which may limit your ability to return to DCA's jurisdiction once you leave
If you lived in a different jurisdiction when you entered our waiting list you must reside in the county of application or in one with a payment standard comparable to or less than that county for one year (see attachment)
DCA may opt to refuse to absorb vouchers of families wishing to port into its jurisdiction
All monies owed DCA must be paid in full
If you are considering porting to a different jurisdiction please contact your DCA regional office. We will provide you with important information so you can make an informed decision.
Should I Move or Should I Stay?
There are incentives to move to a neighborhood with better housing, to improve job opportunities, to seek school choice or to gain access to public transportation. It is a good idea to identify a specific unit or have a landlord in mind before moving. However, you may want to consider these factors before making a decision to move:
The payment standard, utility allowance and occupancy standards of the new area may alter your bedroom size and subsidy amount
All eligibility information must be updated before you move
If you commit to moving and change your mind your present unit may not be available
Rev 3/05