HUD HCV Guidebook § 1
Chapter Overview (HUD HCV Guidebook)
Operative Text
In the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, moves with continued assistance may occur both inside and
outside of a PHA’s jurisdiction. An eligible family that has been issued a voucher can lease a unit that meets
program requirements anywhere in the United States, provided that a PHA administering a tenant-based
program has jurisdiction in the area in which the unit is located. This feature of the program is referred to as
portability, which is the process of leasing a dwelling unit with tenant-based housing voucher assistance
outside of the jurisdiction of the PHA that initially issues the family its voucher (the initial PHA).
This chapter describes how eligible families may move from one jurisdiction to another using portability. The
PHA that initially issues the voucher to a portable family in order to allow them to move to a different
jurisdiction is referred to as the initial PHA. The PHA in the jurisdiction to which the family wishes to move is
known as the receiving PHA.
Moves and Portability 3
How portability differs in the two main types of assistance under the Section 8 Program
Tenant-Based Vouchers Project-Based Vouchers
Under TBVs, the subsidy is tied to the family, With PBVs, however, the subsidy is tied to the unit,
not the unit. This means that the assistance not the family. Only after one year of assistance in a
may be used within the jurisdiction where the project-based unit, the family may switch to the
family lives or within any jurisdiction with an tenant-based voucher program and exercise
HCV program. portability if they choose, with some restrictions.
This chapter also describes the responsibilities of initial and receiving PHAs including processing portability
moves for families and billing and paperwork submission requirements. Program regulations concerning
portability are found at 24 CFR 982.353 through 982.355.
Program regulations were revised through the publication of “Housing Choice Voucher Program: Streamlining
the Portability Process” (also referred to as the portability rule, 80 FR 50564, published in the Federal
Register on August 20, 2015). The latest HUD guidance on the portability process can be found in PIH Notice
2016-09.HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 1 establishes the concept of 'portability' within the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, which allows eligible families to use their tenant-based voucher assistance to lease a unit anywhere in the United States, as long as a Public Housing Authority (PHA) administers an HCV program in that area. The provision distinguishes between tenant-based vouchers, where the subsidy follows the family, and project-based vouchers, where the subsidy is tied to the unit — with project-based voucher holders generally needing to complete one year of assistance before accessing portability. The chapter also outlines the roles of the 'initial PHA' (the one that issues the voucher) and the 'receiving PHA' (the one in the destination jurisdiction), with governing regulations found at 24 CFR 982.353 through 982.355.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who participate in the HCV program should be aware that under HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 1, voucher holders may arrive via portability — meaning their voucher was originally issued by a PHA in a different jurisdiction. A compliant operator generally verifies that the receiving PHA in their area has accepted the portability request and that the unit meets all program requirements before executing a lease. Familiarity with the billing and paperwork responsibilities outlined in this chapter, as well as the streamlined portability regulations at 24 CFR 982.353–982.355, helps ensure smooth processing of these tenancies.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 1, HCV participants holding tenant-based vouchers have the right to use their assistance outside of the jurisdiction where it was originally issued, a process known as portability, governed by regulations at 24 CFR 982.353 through 982.355. Families with project-based vouchers may also access portability, but generally only after completing one year of assistance in their project-based unit and subject to certain restrictions. Tenants interested in a portability move can contact their initial PHA to begin the process, and may also consult a tenant-rights organization or HUD's resources — including PIH Notice 2016-09 — to better understand their options and the responsibilities of both the initial and receiving PHAs.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 26, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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