Portability Overview

Portability is the ability of a family to move from one Housing Authority's jurisdiction to another location. A family may receive assistance to lease a unit outside the Initial Housing Authority's jurisdiction anywhere in the U. S. that is administering a tenant-based voucher program.

To review Housing Authority contact information, please visit this hud.gov site.

Relationship Between Housing Authorities

Usually, there are two parties involved: an Initial Housing Authority and a Receiving Housing Authority.

  • Initial Housing Authority: The Initial Housing Authority is the Housing Authority that issued the voucher. This Housing Authority is sometimes referred to as the issuing Housing Authority.
  • Receiving Housing Authority: The Receiving Housing Authority is the party that accepts the voucher from the Initial Housing Authority. The Receiving Housing Authority may administer the assistance for the Initial Housing Authority and bill them or absorb the family into its own program.

AMHA Port-Out Process

  • Before the porting process is started, it is recommended to contact the Housing Authority you are planning to move into to inquire about their specific porting policies and procedures. Please be aware that when porting, screening criteria, subsidy, and payment standards for the new Housing Authority can differ from AHMA’s and could affect your household’s assistance.
  • Participant/applicant must complete the required paperwork and submit to AMHA. 2021 Outgoing Portability Form
  • Once approved, AMHA will send the participant/applicant port file via secure email to the requested Housing Authority within 10 business days of receiving completed paperwork.
  • The Receiving Housing Authority should contact participant/applicant to verify receipt of port file and schedule a briefing. If participant/applicant is not contacted within 20 business days of submitting paperwork, it is recommended to contact the Receiving Housing Authority to schedule a briefing to start the move in process.
  • The Receiving Housing Authority will notify AMHA once a HAP contract has been completed for the participant/applicant and will state if they will be absorbing the voucher or if they will be billing AMHA for the subsidy.

AMHA Port-In Process (those wishing to port in to AMHA)

  • Participant/applicant should contact their current Housing Authority and notify them of the desire to move to AMHA.
  • The Housing Authority will send the participant/applicant port file to AMHA.
  • CONTACT INFORMATION
    Address: 100 West Cedar St., Akron, OH 44307
    Fax Number: 330-374-5088
    Phone Number: 330-762-9631 and ask for the Portability Specialist
    Email: Portability@AkronHousing.org
  • Once received, AMHA will contact the participant/applicant by phone and/or mail to schedule an appointment. Please be prepared to provide proof of income, assets, expenses, and identification documents.
  • At the appointment, AMHA will issue a voucher for a minimum of 120 days from the Initial voucher issuance date.
  • AMHA will notify the Initial Housing Authority once a HAP contract has been completed for the participant.
  • Review the AMHA Voucher Briefing Powerpoint below.