NYC phone number for porting your Section 8 voucher out (or in)

Last updated 2026-07-10

What is the NYC phone number for porting a Section 8 voucher?

Call 212-306-3000. That is the New York City Housing Authority's (NYCHA) centralized contact line, and when you reach a rep you want the Leased Housing Department. ^[1] Leased Housing runs every portability request, incoming and outgoing.

NYCHA also takes written requests through its Customer Contact Center at PO Box 3422, New York, NY 10007, and through the MyNYCHA portal if you have an account. ^[1] But the phone starts the clock fastest.

A few things to know before you dial. NYCHA is one of the biggest housing authorities in the country. It administers roughly 85,000 Housing Choice Vouchers according to HUD's Picture of Subsidized Households data. ^[2] Call volume is heavy. Call right when the lines open, and have your case number or participant ID in front of you. If you land in voicemail, state your name, participant ID, callback number, and the words "portability request" clearly.

Here is the thing people miss. If your voucher came from a different NYC agency, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), that agency runs its own portability desk. HPD's main line is 212-863-6300. ^[3] Know which agency issued your voucher before you dial, because a call to the wrong office just burns a day.

What is Section 8 portability and how does it work?

Portability lets a housing choice voucher program holder move to a new jurisdiction and use the voucher there, even in a different city or state. The legal basis is 24 CFR 982.353, which states: "A family with a certificate of family participation or a housing choice voucher may move to another jurisdiction under the portability procedures of this subpart." ^[4]

There are two directions. "Porting out" means you hold a voucher from NYCHA (or HPD) and want to move elsewhere. "Porting in" means you already have a voucher from another authority and want to bring it to New York City.

Here is the simplified flow for porting out of NYC:

1. You notify NYCHA in writing or by phone that you want to port. 2. NYCHA checks your eligibility (more on that below). 3. NYCHA issues you a portability packet and contacts the receiving housing authority in your destination. 4. The receiving authority either absorbs your voucher (takes over administration) or bills NYCHA under a billing arrangement. 5. You search for housing in the new jurisdiction under the receiving authority's payment standards and rules.

Porting in runs the same steps in reverse. Your current housing authority sends the packet to NYCHA. NYCHA then decides to absorb or bill. If NYCHA bills, your original authority pays NYCHA the housing assistance payment every month.

The housing authority on the receiving end holds real discretion. HUD rules let receiving PHAs set their own screening criteria and payment standards, so conditions in the destination city matter a lot.

Am I eligible to port out of NYC, and when can I do it?

You can port as long as you hold a current, valid voucher and are in good standing with NYCHA. ^[4] One timing rule trips people up more than any other.

If NYCHA issued your voucher (you came off the NYCHA waitlist and NYCHA is your original PHA), you have to lease up in NYC first and live there at least 12 months before you can port out. ^[4] That is the initial lease-up requirement under 24 CFR 982.353(b).

Exceptions exist. If you are moving to protect your health or safety, say as a survivor of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, the 12-month rule does not apply. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) protections written into 24 CFR Part 5, Subpart L cover that right directly. ^[5] Families with a disability-related need to move may also qualify for an exception.

If you originally ported into NYC and NYCHA absorbed your voucher, the 12-month clock still runs, this time from the date of absorption. If NYCHA is billing your original authority (meaning NYCHA never absorbed), your original authority's portability rules apply, not NYCHA's.

One more practical reality. NYCHA can deny portability if your family owes money from a prior assisted tenancy, has an active lease violation proceeding, or has been terminated from the program. Clear any of that up before you call.

How do I actually start the port-out process with NYCHA?

Call 212-306-3000 and ask for the Leased Housing Department. ^[1] Say you want to start a portability request. The rep confirms your eligibility and tells you exactly what to submit.

Typically NYCHA wants:

• A written portability request letter (a simple signed statement often works; ask the rep whether NYCHA has its own form)
• Your current lease or lease expiration date
• Proof of the address you plan to move to, or at least the destination city and state
• Identification for the head of household

Once NYCHA processes your request, it sends a portability packet to the receiving housing authority. The packet includes your current voucher, income documentation, and a request for the receiving PHA to issue you a voucher in its jurisdiction.

The receiving authority then contacts you directly with search instructions. It gives you its own voucher (or continues yours under a billing arrangement), and its own payment standards apply. Payment standards swing hard from city to city, so do not assume what you pay in NYC carries over.

HUD sets no hard statutory deadline for the issuing PHA to send the packet. In practice, expect 2 to 4 weeks for NYCHA to issue it, then more weeks for the receiving authority to issue their voucher. Total time from your phone call to a usable voucher in the destination city runs 30 to 90 days in most cases. ^[6]

Keep a paper trail. Write down the date you called, the rep's name, and what they told you. Follow up in writing through the MyNYCHA portal or a mailed letter.

What happens when I port my voucher to another state, like Georgia?

The law works the same for a move to Georgia, but the experience feels different because Georgia has many housing authorities and each one sets its own rules.

When you call NYCHA at 212-306-3000 and ask to port to Georgia, NYCHA asks which jurisdiction. The state has no single housing authority. Moving to Atlanta means the Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA). A suburb like Marietta might fall under the Marietta Housing Authority or Cobb County. ^[7] You need the specific city or county before NYCHA can send the packet to the right place.

Once NYCHA sends it, the Georgia receiving authority processes it under their own payment standards. Atlanta's Fair Market Rents run far below NYC's. HUD set the FY2025 two-bedroom FMR at $1,685 for the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metro, against $2,537 for New York City the same year. ^[8] Your housing assistance payment gets recalculated on Georgia numbers, and your out-of-pocket share can change.

A receiving authority under an administrative freeze, or one buried in incoming ports, can put your port on hold. HUD rules let receiving PHAs restrict incoming portability when they lack administrative funding. Check the destination authority's website or call them before you commit to the move.

For more on what rental assistance looks like in a new state, the receiving housing authority is your primary source. HUD's site also lists every PHA by state. ^[6]

VoucherReady has a portability checklist tool that tracks each step and logs your contacts with both authorities, which earns its keep when a port drags on and you need to prove you followed up.

How do I port my voucher into New York City from another state?

Porting into NYC is harder than porting out. New York rents are brutal, and NYCHA's payment standards, high as they are by national standards, can still leave you with a real rent burden.

To port in, you do not call NYCHA first. You call your current housing authority and tell them you want to port to New York City. They handle the outbound paperwork and send a portability packet to NYCHA. ^[4]

NYCHA then has two options under 24 CFR 982.355:

1. Absorb your voucher. NYCHA takes over full administration, and your original authority is done. 2. Bill your original authority. NYCHA administers locally but sends a monthly invoice to your original PHA, which pays the housing assistance payment.

The math is the problem. NYC rents sit high above what many sending PHAs will fund. If your original authority's payment standard is $1,200 for a two-bedroom and NYC's FMR tops $2,500, the numbers do not work unless you cover a big gap. HUD rules bar families from paying more than 40 percent of monthly adjusted income toward rent at initial lease-up. ^[4] That cap protects you, and it also means many NYC apartments stay out of reach even with the voucher.

NYCHA applies its current locally-set payment standards to incoming ports. Check NYCHA's Section 8 pages for the live figures before you start. ^[1]

Most people porting into NYC find the search grueling. The section 8 houses for rent inventory is thin and the competition is fierce. Be honest with yourself about that before you initiate a port in.

How long does NYC Section 8 portability take from start to finish?

It depends, and nobody has clean aggregate data on NYCHA's timelines. HUD does not publish per-PHA portability processing times anywhere I can point you to.

What the regulations say: the issuing PHA must process a request promptly, and 24 CFR 982.355(c) requires the receiving PHA to issue a voucher to a portable family within a "reasonable time" after it gets the packet. ^[4] Vague on purpose. HUD gives PHAs administrative flexibility.

Here is how the real timeline tends to break down:

Stage	Typical Timeframe
NYCHA processes your request and sends packet	2 to 4 weeks
Receiving PHA issues their voucher	1 to 4 weeks
You search for a unit in the new jurisdiction	30 to 120 days (depends on their search policy)
Inspection and lease-up	1 to 3 weeks
Total elapsed time	60 to 150+ days

Your current lease is the real constraint. If it ends before the port finishes, you may have to negotiate a month-to-month extension with your landlord, or risk a gap in housing. Start at least 90 days before your planned move.

The receiving authority's voucher expiration clock matters too. Most PHAs give you 60 to 120 days to find a unit once they issue a voucher. Extensions happen, but count on nothing.

What is the difference between NYCHA and HPD for Section 8 portability?

New York City runs two big Housing Choice Voucher programs: NYCHA and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Separate agencies, separate portfolios, separate phone numbers.

NYCHA holds the larger portfolio, roughly 85,000 vouchers. ^[2] HPD runs a smaller but still large portfolio, heavy on project-based and scattered-site programs. ^[3]

If your paperwork says "NYCHA," or your landlord's payments come from NYCHA, call 212-306-3000. If it says "HPD," call 212-863-6300. ^[3] The wrong number costs you a day.

The portability rules match, because both agencies follow 24 CFR Part 982, but the forms, staff, and timelines differ. HPD has its own Leased Housing unit. Ask for their portability team by name when you call.

For either agency, pull your most recent voucher renewal letter first. It names your administering agency and your case number. That case number is the key to every conversation you will have.

What documents do I need for a NYCHA portability request?

Getting your paperwork together before you call cuts the back-and-forth way down. Here is what NYCHA usually asks for, though the list can shift and you should confirm with the Leased Housing rep:

• A signed, written portability request (a plain letter works; include your full name, participant ID, current address, and destination city/state)
• Your current lease and its expiration date
• Photo ID for the head of household
• Proof of any exception to the 12-month rule, if it applies (a VAWA self-certification form under 24 CFR 5.2007 for a safety move, for example) ^[5]
• Current income documentation, if NYCHA's file is stale

If you have already picked a city and a unit, bring the address and landlord contact info. It will not speed up NYCHA's side, but it helps the receiving authority once they get the packet.

One document people forget. If your household has changed since your last recertification (a new member, someone who moved out), get that updated before you initiate. A household composition mismatch stalls the whole thing.

VoucherReady's landlord kit includes a portability documentation checklist that some households use to organize their submission, though the kit is built mainly for landlords entering the voucher program.

What are NYCHA's current payment standards, and will they change when I port?

Payment standards are the most a housing authority will pay toward rent and utilities for a given unit size. Each PHA sets them locally within 90 to 110 percent of HUD's Fair Market Rents, and PHAs can get HUD approval to go higher in high-cost areas. ^[4]

NYCHA's payment standards rank among the highest in the country, which tracks with NYC's rental market. For current figures, check NYCHA's Section 8 pages directly, because these reset annually and any number printed in an article goes stale. ^[1]

HUD's FY2025 Fair Market Rents for the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro are:

Unit Size	HUD FMR (FY2025)
SRO / 0-BR	$1,740
1-Bedroom	$1,997
2-Bedroom	$2,537
3-Bedroom	$3,285
4-Bedroom	$3,606

^[8]

When you port out, the receiving housing authority applies their payment standards, not NYCHA's. Move somewhere with lower FMRs, like most of Georgia, and your total housing assistance likely drops. That does not automatically raise your out-of-pocket share; that depends on your income and the local rents. Still, model it before you commit to a destination.

The hud housing FMR database lets you look up FMRs for any metro in the country. Use it to compare your destination before you port.

What can I do if NYCHA is not processing my portability request?

This hits some families hard. NYCHA has run administrative backlogs, and portability requests do not always jump the queue. Here is what to do when you are stuck.

First, document everything. Log every call: date, time, rep name, what was said. Send follow-up emails or portal messages so you hold a written record.

Second, escalate inside NYCHA. Ask for a supervisor in the Leased Housing Department. A supervisor can sometimes flag a stalled case.

Third, contact HUD's local field office. The HUD New York Regional Office covers NYC and takes complaints about a PHA that fails to follow HUD portability rules. Its number is 212-542-7100. ^[6] A complaint guarantees nothing fast, but it builds a paper trail and sometimes prods the PHA to move.

Fourth, call a tenant rights organization. In New York City, groups like the Legal Aid Society provide free housing legal help to low-income residents. They can sometimes send a formal demand letter for you.

Fifth, if you have a disability and the move is disability-related, your request may qualify as a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act. Put it in writing and frame it that way, and NYCHA has to treat it with urgency. ^[5]

One more move. If your receiving housing authority is waiting on NYCHA to send the packet and weeks have gone by, the receiving PHA can contact NYCHA directly to follow up. Push them to do it.

Can a landlord refuse to participate because I am porting from another city?

A landlord's obligations under the section 8 program do not shift based on where your voucher started. Once the receiving housing authority issues you a local voucher (or sets up a billing arrangement), you search like any other voucher holder in that jurisdiction. The landlord deals with the local PHA, not NYCHA or wherever you came from.

Some landlords ask about voucher history or your prior housing authority, and they cannot use that to discriminate. In New York City, Local Law 10 of 2008 bars discrimination based on source of income, which includes Housing Choice Vouchers. ^[9] Many other cities and some states have similar protections. Georgia has no statewide source-of-income protection law as of 2025, so Georgia landlords can legally decline vouchers unless a local ordinance says otherwise.

The practical read: landlords who take vouchers in tight markets care mostly about whether the voucher covers a big chunk of the rent and whether the unit passes inspection. Where the voucher came from is a footnote.

For landlords weighing a ported voucher, the process on their side is identical to any other voucher. The local housing authority handles payments and inspections. A good starting point for landlords new to the program is the open section 8 waiting lists and program overview resources that walk through inspection and payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the NYCHA phone number for Section 8 portability?

Call NYCHA's main line at 212-306-3000 and ask for the Leased Housing Department. That is the right department for all portability questions, whether you are porting out of NYC or asking about an incoming port. If HPD administers your voucher rather than NYCHA, call HPD at 212-863-6300 instead.

How long do I have to live in NYC before I can port my Section 8 voucher out?

If NYCHA issued your original voucher (you came off the NYCHA waitlist), you must live in an NYCHA-assisted unit in NYC for at least 12 months before you can port out. This is the initial lease-up requirement under 24 CFR 982.353(b). Exceptions exist for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking under VAWA, and for families with documented disability-related needs.

Can I port my NYC Section 8 voucher to Georgia?

Yes. Call NYCHA at 212-306-3000 once your 12-month residency requirement is met and request a portability transfer to your specific Georgia city or county. Georgia has many housing authorities, so NYCHA needs the exact destination. Atlanta's FY2025 two-bedroom FMR is $1,685, well below NYC's $2,537, so your housing assistance amount gets recalculated under Georgia payment standards.

What documents do I need to start a NYCHA portability request?

You typically need a signed written portability request letter with your participant ID, your current lease and expiration date, a photo ID, and current income documentation if your file is outdated. If you qualify for an exception to the 12-month rule (a VAWA safety move, for example), include supporting documentation. Confirm the exact list with NYCHA's Leased Housing Department when you call.

Does NYCHA have an online portal for portability requests?

NYCHA's MyNYCHA portal lets participants submit messages and some requests online. You can use it to send a written portability request and to follow up in writing, which creates a useful paper trail. But the portal is not a dedicated portability application system. For complex situations or urgent moves, call 212-306-3000 first and follow up through the portal after.

What is the difference between portability absorption and billing?

When you port, the receiving housing authority can absorb your voucher, meaning it takes full administrative responsibility and your original PHA is done, or bill your original PHA, meaning the receiving PHA administers locally but invoices your original authority each month for the housing assistance payment. Absorption is simpler long-term, but receiving PHAs may choose billing when they face funding constraints.

Can NYCHA deny my portability request?

Yes. NYCHA can deny portability if you have not met the 12-month initial lease-up requirement, if you owe money from a prior assisted tenancy, if you have an active lease violation proceeding, or if you have been terminated from the program. If you think a denial is wrong, you have the right to request an informal hearing under 24 CFR 982.554 to challenge it.

Will my Section 8 payment amount change when I port out of NYC?

Almost certainly yes. Your housing assistance payment is based on the receiving housing authority's payment standards, not NYCHA's. NYC runs some of the highest payment standards in the country. Move to a lower-cost metro like Atlanta and your voucher gets recalculated under the Georgia authority's payment standards, which sit on local Fair Market Rents far below NYC's.

What if my NYCHA portability request is stuck and not being processed?

Document every contact with date, time, and rep name. Escalate to a supervisor in NYCHA's Leased Housing Department. If that fails, file a complaint with HUD's New York Regional Office at 212-542-7100. Tenant rights groups like the Legal Aid Society can also send a formal demand. If the move is disability-related, submit a reasonable accommodation request in writing, which triggers faster obligations under the Fair Housing Act.

Can I port a voucher into NYC from another state?

Yes, but it is difficult in practice. Your current housing authority sends a portability packet to NYCHA. NYCHA then either absorbs your voucher or bills your original authority. The main obstacle is NYC's high rents: your incoming port voucher is capped at NYCHA's payment standards, and HUD rules prohibit you from paying more than 40 percent of monthly adjusted income toward rent at initial lease-up, which limits which units are actually affordable.

Is HPD the same as NYCHA for Section 8 portability purposes?

No. NYCHA and HPD are separate NYC agencies that both administer Housing Choice Vouchers but operate independently. If your voucher is from NYCHA, call 212-306-3000. If your voucher is from HPD, call 212-863-6300. Your most recent voucher renewal letter identifies which agency issued it. Calling the wrong one means starting over.

Do I need to find a new apartment before I start the portability process?

No. You initiate portability first by notifying NYCHA. The receiving housing authority then issues you a voucher with a search period (typically 60 to 120 days) to find a unit. You do not need a specific apartment lined up before you call NYCHA. But you do need to know your destination city so NYCHA can send the packet to the correct receiving housing authority.

What are my rights as a Section 8 family moving for safety reasons (domestic violence)?

Under the Violence Against Women Act and its HUD rules at 24 CFR Part 5, Subpart L, a family fleeing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking can port out of NYC immediately, without meeting the 12-month residency requirement. You may submit a self-certification form rather than police reports or court orders. NYCHA must keep your new location confidential from the perpetrator.

Sources

1. NYCHA, Section 8 Leased Housing program pages (nyc.gov/nycha): NYCHA's main contact number for Section 8 Leased Housing is 212-306-3000
2. HUD, Picture of Subsidized Households: NYCHA administers approximately 85,000 Housing Choice Vouchers, making it one of the largest voucher programs in the country
3. NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (nyc.gov/hpd): HPD administers its own portfolio of Housing Choice Vouchers in New York City; main contact is 212-863-6300
4. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 24 CFR Part 982 Housing Choice Voucher Program: 24 CFR 982.353 and 982.355 govern portability rights, the 12-month initial lease-up requirement, absorption vs. billing, and the 40-percent rent burden cap at initial lease-up
5. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 24 CFR Part 5 Subpart L (VAWA protections): Survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking may port out without meeting the 12-month residency requirement under VAWA provisions
6. HUD, Housing Choice Voucher Program section (hud.gov): HUD outlines the portability process and notes that receiving PHAs must issue a voucher within a reasonable time; HUD's New York Regional Office phone number is 212-542-7100
7. Atlanta Housing Authority, Section 8 portability and incoming transfers: Atlanta Housing Authority administers the voucher program for the City of Atlanta; incoming port families must contact AHA directly
8. HUD, FY2025 Fair Market Rents (huduser.gov): HUD FY2025 FMR for New York-Newark-Jersey City 2BR is $2,537; Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell 2BR FMR is $1,685
9. NYC Commission on Human Rights (nyc.gov/cchr): New York City Local Law 10 of 2008 prohibits housing discrimination based on source of income, including Section 8 vouchers
10. HUD, Housing Choice Voucher Program Guidebook (HUD-7420.10G): HUD's HCV Guidebook details portability packet requirements, billing procedures, and PHA administrative responsibilities