Tenant's Obligations: When a family selects a housing unit, and the PHA approves the unit and lease, the family signs a lease with the landlord for at least one year. The tenant may be required to pay a security deposit to the landlord. After the first year the landlord may initiate a new lease or allow the family to remain in the unit on a month-to-month lease.

When the family is settled in a new home, the family is expected to comply with the lease and the program requirements, pay its share of rent on time, maintain the unit in good condition and notify the PHA of any changes in income or family composition.


Rental Listing Resources

The voucher holder is free to choose any rental housing unit that meets all Program requirements. The searching and selection for an appropriate unit is completely the voucher holder’s responsibility. Might we Suggest:

Resouces:

» Contact a Housing Choice Voucher Specialist for a list of available units


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.

Please Note:

  • The Housing Authority of Joliet is currently billing (not absorbing) the initial PHAs.

The Housing Choice Voucher is good anywhere in the United States. Should a voucher holder wish to “port” his or her voucher to Will County, Illinois, these are the steps that should be followed:

  1. Contact your caseworker/HCV Specialist at your current Housing Authority – Complete the required documentation at your initial housing authority, requesting to port your voucher documents to the Housing Authority of Joliet – we have jurisdiction over all of Will County, Illinois.
  2. The initial housing authority will fax, email, or mail your voucher documents to:
    Housing Authority of Joliet
    ATTN: haj-portability@hajoliet.org, Portability Correspondence
    6 S. Broadway Street
    Joliet, IL 60436
    FAX: 815-727-2073

    Email Portability Correspondence
  3. Within 7 business days of receipt of the documentation, the Portability Specialist will contact you to schedule your intake and moving briefing.  Expect this appointment will require 45 – 60 minutes to complete and you should bring all household composition, current income, and income-related documentation to your meeting. At this appointment, you will receive your moving folder.

LATEST! Notice PIH 2016–09 “Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Family Moves with Continued Assistance, Family Briefing, and Voucher Term’s Suspension” Published.
The notice updates previous guidance (PIH 2012-42) relating to family moves with continued assistance, including portability.
It also incorporates other related changes resulting from publication of the final portability rule (family briefing and suspension of the voucher term).


Family Self-Sufficiency Program

The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program was established in 1990 by section 554 of the National Affordable Housing Act.  The objective of the program is to reduce the dependency of families currently residing in public housing and Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.  Families participating in the FSS program are provided opportunities for education, job training, counseling, and other forms of social services assistance to obtain the education, employment, and business and social skills necessary to achieve self-sufficiency.

The Housing Authority of Joliet’s Family Self-Sufficiency Program is an innovative, voluntary participation program that helps Housing Choice Voucher Program participants achieve economic independence over a five-year period.  A case manager works closely with program participants to assist in identifying personal strengths, setting both short and long-term achievable program goals, removing potential barriers to program participation, and successful completion of and graduation from the program.  The overall goal of the program is to help families become financially independent and free of government assistance and subsidies.

Through a partnership with multiple community and private agencies, the Housing Authority of Joliet is able to provide Family Self-Sufficiency Program participants with access to services that are essential to success.  This network of service providers assists the Housing Authority of Joliet with program vision and coordination and provides access to programs associated with educational advancement, academic counseling, scholarship opportunities, job readiness and placement opportunities, career counseling, employment opportunities, day care services, transportation assistance, healthcare assistance, family counseling, financial literacy and money management, life skills and self-esteem enhancement, legal assistance, and homeownership opportunities.

For more information, please contact our FSS Program Coordinator:

Andrea Finch
815-727-0611, extension 160
Email Andrea Finch


More Information:

If you are a current applicant and want to determine your position on the Housing Choice Voucher Program waiting list, please call 815-727-2969.