Tenants

The Housing Choice Voucher program, HCV program, commonly referred to as “Section 8”, provides rental assistance to eligible families. The Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Virginia MN provides rental assistance to over 500 low-income, elderly and disabled families in Northern St. Louis County in Minnesota. Participants rent housing from private landlords and pay a portion of their income towards rent. The VHRA subsidizes the difference in monthly payments to the owner.

Portability

“Portability” in the HCV program refers to the process through which the family can transfer or “port” their rental subsidy when they move to a location outside the jurisdiction of the public housing agency (PHA) that first gave them the voucher when they were selected for the program.

New families may not be able to port immediately; they may have to live in the jurisdiction of the initial PHA for a year before they can port.  Initial PHAs may allow moves during this one-year period.

  • Initial PHAs -The PHA that first gave the voucher to the individual when they were selected for the program.
  • Receiving PHAs– The agency that will administer assistance in the area to which the individual moves.

How Portability Works