Moving with rental assistance [Mar. 2011]

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.
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 local 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 the written notice given to the landlord. The notice must be in accordance with the terms of your lease agreement (which is usually a minimum of 30 days.)
Complete required paperwork related to your move that 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:
If you have a new voucher and do not yet receive rental assistance, your income must fall within the limits for the county where you want to live. Check with us for that information.
If you lived in a different PHA's jurisdiction when you entered DCA's waiting list you must reside in DCA's jurisdiction for one year.
You must be current on all monies owed to DCA in order to relocate within DCA's jurisdiction.

Portability:
Portability is the feature that allows eligible voucher holders to move from one housing authority's 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:
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 housing authority's jurisdiction when you entered DCA's waiting list you must reside in DCA's jurisdiction for a minimum of one year.
DCA may opt to refuse to absorb vouchers of families wishing to port into our jurisdiction.
All monies owed DCA must be paid in full before you will be approved to port.
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 5/11