Changes in household income must be reported and verified. To determine when the reported change in household income is effective contact the Housing Specialist assigned to your case. Income changes do not go into effect retroactively, they go into effect after they are reported. For a staff directory go to www.dhcmi.org 

(All changes in household income or family composition must be reported within 10- days.  All income changes will be reviewed by your assigned case manager. DHC will determine if your change will be applied based on DHC's current administrative policy. The effective date of the interim will be effective the first of the month after all necessary items are submitted. Late submissions of documents will affect the effective date of your interim.)

To report a change in household income or change in household composition contact the housing specialist assigned to your account.

You are eligible to transfer your voucher to any housing authority that operates the Housing Choice Voucher Program. You will need to inform your housing specialist that you want to transfer to another jurisdiction to start the portability process. You need to be in good standing with your current landlord. Your housing specialist will issue Intent to Vacate for you and your landlord to complete. Once the form is completed, turn the form in and, provided that you are in good standing, DHC will issue your voucher and portability paperwork to transfer to the new jurisdiction. Upon receipt of your paperwork the receiving housing authority will contact you to schedule necessary appointments to begin assistance in the new location.

You will need to contact your current housing authority office to start the portability process. They will advise you on their portability procedures and assist you with moving to Detroit.

Normal procedures for the Detroit Housing Commission are to bill the initial housing authority for portability.

If you qualify for utility reimbursement, you will receive a letter from the DHC that indicates the utility reimbursement amount. The utility reimbursement amount is based on your adjusted income, the type of utility (gas, electric, etc), and the type of unit (apartment, single-family home, etc.).

All program participants are scheduled for re-examination appointments approximately four months prior to their anniversary date.

Definitely not. Whenever there is any kind of change in income it must be reported in person immediately, not over the phone or by mail. Your income change must be reported in person, via email or on the portal with supportive documents verifying the change.

AS LONG AS YOU REPORT THE CHANGE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD WITHIN TEN (10) DAYS OF THE CHANGE YOU WILL NOT BE IN JEOPARDY OF ACCUMULATING A DEBT WITH SECTION 8.

Not necessarily. If at any time it is discovered that you are over income, your Section 8 voucher will be held for you to use again within a six-month period if your income once again falls below the income limit. It is up to you to report if this occurs. In the meantime, you will be responsible to pay the rent in full directly to the landlord. If no changes income are reported which result in DHC paying a port of your rent, you will be removed from the program after 180- days.

Porting Outside of DHC’s Jurisdiction (Port Out): To port out from DHC, the participant should follow the steps below. 

Steps to Port Out:

Submit a Port Form and Intent to Vacate (ITV) Form with your notice to vacate form to your assigned specialist.

Ensure you are lease-compliant and up to date on your rent and responsibilities.

You must have lived in our jurisdiction for at least 12 months, or applied as a resident.

Our staff will send your portability packet to the receiving PHA within 10 business days.

Important Notes:

You must continue to comply with all program requirements until you lease in your new location.

Delays may occur if paperwork is incomplete or if the receiving PHA has special policies.

To request portability, please email: port@dhcmi.org or contact your assigned case manager.

If you have a voucher from another PHA and would like to move to our jurisdiction:

Receiving Portability Requests: Please have your housing authority send your portability packet to:

port@dhcmi.org 

Attention: Portability Specialist

• What to Expect:
• Once we receive your packet, we will contact you within 10 business days to schedule an intake.
• You will receive a briefing email. (Please check your spam folder).
• You may be issued a new voucher based on our local subsidy standards.
• The Detroit Housing Commission is currently billing all incoming portability clients.

Our inspection team must approve any unit before move-in.