Moving to Chicago

CHA’s Housing Choice Voucher Program also caters to families and individuals who possess a voucher from another housing authority. However, the process of transferring a voucher from one city to another varies, depending on a number of factors. The purpose of this page is to lay out guidelines and steps non-Chicago HCV program participants must follow when moving to Chicago.

Transfer of Documents

The process starts when the voucher holder notifies their housing authority that they would like to move to Chicago. The Initial Housing Authority (IHA) will forward the following documents to CHA:

HUD 52665 Family Portability Information Form
HUD 50058 Form
Copies of supporting income verification documents
Family’s / individual’s current voucher
Family contact information, including a valid phone number and address

These documents should be mailed to:
Admissions Department-Port In Team
Chicago Housing Authority
Housing Choice Voucher Program
60 East Van Buren – 9th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60605

Or faxed to 312.786.3257 or 312.786.3664

Please allow 10-15 business days for CHA to receive all required documents and follow up with your IHA to find out the status of your paperwork.

Portability Application

Once CHA receives all appropriate documents, program staff will contact the voucher holder to schedule an interview. All household members age 17 or older must attend this interview and bring the following documents: Current valid photo identification

Birth certificates for all household members
Social Security cards for all household members
Marriage License, Divorce Decree and/or Court Award Custody Letters, if applicable

In addition, the family may be required to provide documentation of their household income.

Eligibility Screening

After the interview, CHA will review the family’s application to determine their eligibility. CHA may disqualify a family or individual’s portability application if there is evidence of violent and/or drug related-criminal activity, serious lease violations and outstanding balances owed to the IHA or previous landlord. If a member of the household fails the criminal background check or CHA determines that the family is not eligible, the portability application will be withdrawn and family or individual may be subject to termination from the Housing Choice Voucher Program.

If approved CHA will issue the porting family or individual a voucher with the same expiration date as the one from the IHA. CHA will not accept a portability application if there are less than 45 days remaining on the IHA-issued voucher.

Briefing Session

Once the voucher holder’s eligibility has been verified, the porting family or individual will attend a briefing session to receive their moving papers, which include a Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) and a CHA voucher with the same expiration date as the IHA-issued voucher.

Housing Search

In order to use their voucher in Chicago, the voucher holder must locate a unit and submit an RFTA within at least 15 days. If the voucher holder does not find a unit within the allotted time period, the voucher will be withdrawn and in certain cases, the family or individual can lose their voucher. If the family needs additional time to search, they must request an extension from their IHA, not CHA.

Inspection and Rent Reasonableness

CHA will schedule an inspection upon receipt of RFTA. After the unit passes inspection and the rent negotiation process, the voucher holder and family can move into their new home.

Completing the Process

Once the voucher holder signs a lease, they must notify their IHA, so CHA and the IHA can complete necessary paperwork and ensure consistent payments to the new landlord.

For questions or more information on CHA’s Housing Choice Voucher portability process, call 312.935.2600 or TTY: 312.461.0079

Downloads

Moving to Chicago with HCV Brochure