Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) are issued as a “tenant-based” subsidy which means the rental assistance is mobile and follows the family, so it may be transferred to any city or state the tenant chooses to live. This is what’s meant by “portability” or “porting” your voucher. The following is a list of procedures you must follow and information you need to be aware of when transferring to another Housing Authority.

Porting-Out of Hawaiʻi County

Considering moving to another county or state?

1. Contact your Housing Specialist to see if you are eligible to transfer your Section 8 assistance to another housing authority. Please note that if you are in the first year of your lease and the landlord will not allow an early release, you may not move with the subsidy.
2. In order to be approved for a port-out:
   • You cannot have an active Tenant Repayment Agreement (TRA). Tenants must pay any pending TRA in full before porting out.
   • If you are a new participant of the Section 8 program, you must meet the residency requirements set for Hawaiʻi County. If neither the Head of Household nor the Spouse/Co-Head had a legal residence in Hawaiʻi County at the time application for assistance was submitted, you must reside in Hawaiʻi County under the program for at least 12 months before requesting portability.
   • You must be able to qualify under the new location’s income limits if you are new to the Section 8 program.
   • You must be outside your lease term unless your landlord agrees to an early release.  There needs to be proper move out notice from both parties.  This includes no outstanding debts owed to your landlord or outstanding violations of your lease.
3. Once you are determined eligible, you will need to be ready to provide the Housing Authority, state, county, or town where you want to transfer to.  Once this information is confirmed, the Housing Specialist will give your file to the Portability Coordinator to complete your port-out request. You may contact the Portability Coordinator at (808) 323-4300, ext 4307. The voucher will be valid for 60 days. During these 60 days you must contact the new housing agency, comply with their requirements for moving there, find a new unit, and submit the necessary paperwork. If you do not comply with the new housing agency's requirements and submit paperwork within the 60 days, your voucher will be canceled, and you will need to reapply for housing assistance.
4. The Portability Coordinator will send all the required documents via email or fax to the Housing Authority you have identified on the Portability Request form.
5. It is your responsibility to contact the new Housing Authority to schedule an intake appointment. Only after you have followed the new housing authority’s guidelines and been determined income eligible will you receive housing assistance.
6. Be sure to leave your current unit in good condition and no money owing to your landlord. Violations of your lease and the Housing Authority's Family Obligations can result in termination of your assistance even after you have moved out. If you decide NOT to move out of Hawaiʻi County, you must call (808) 959-4642 or email sec8info@hawaiicounty.gov to notify the Portability Coordinator about your decision to cancel your Port-Out request immediately. You must also contact your Housing Specialist to complete the transfer process to rent a unit within Hawaiʻi County.

Porting-In to Hawaiʻi County

Considering moving to Hawaiʻi County from another jurisdiction?

If you are currently on the Section 8 program and wish to port your Section 8 subsidy to Hawaiʻi County from another location, you must first contact your local housing agency and request a portability transfer to this area. If your transfer is approved by your current housing agency, paperwork will be sent to our office in the County of Hawaiʻi, Office of Housing and Community Development, Existing Housing Division.  From there, your intake process can begin. Do not leave your current area without first informing your landlord and the housing agency.

When you know we have received the paperwork, you may contact our Intake Coordinator, at 808-959-4642 or email sec8info@hawaiicounty.gov. The intake process for port-in transfers is as follows:

1. Portability paperwork must be received from the originating housing agency before the transfer process can begin.
2. After paperwork arrives, an intake interview is scheduled. Intake interviews take place in person at the main office at 1990 Kinoʻole Street, Hilo, HI 96720 or by phone.
3. Paperwork will need to be completed by the applicant/ participant and documents may be requested for local eligibility during the intake appointment.
4. Upon successful completion of intake, you will receive a voucher for Hawaiʻi County and paperwork to initiate the housing search.

Frequently Asked Questions