3 - MOU AGREEMENT FOR INTER-JURISDICTIONAL MOBILITY

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REQUEST FOR HOUSING AUTHORITY ACTION MEETING DATE: SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 TITLE: MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT FOR INTER -JURISDICTIONAL MOBILITY (STRATEGIC PLAN NO. 4, 11 EXEC TIVE DI T8 RECOMMENDED ACTION RECORDING SECRETARY USE ONLY: APPROVED ❑ As Recommended ❑ As Amended CONTINUED TO Authorize the Executive Director to execute a Memorandum of Agreement for Inter -Jurisdictional Mobility with the Orange County Housing Authority and Anaheim Housing Authority effective October 1, 2016 through August 31, 2021, subject to non -substantive changes approved by the Executive Director and the Housing Authority General Counsel. DISCUSSION Under the federal regulations for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, a family that has been issued a voucher by the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Ana (SAHA) has the right to use their voucher to lease a unit anywhere in the United States as long as the unit is located within the jurisdiction of a Public Housing Authority (PHA) administering a Housing Choice Voucher Program. The process by which a family obtains a voucher from one PHA and uses it to lease a unit in the jurisdiction of another PHA is known as portability. Currently, 930 families are exercising that right and reside outside of SAHA's jurisdiction. Their rental assistance is administered by the Garden Grove Housing Authority and Orange County Housing Authority who bill SAHA each month for their vouchers. SAHA has no authority to deny a family their right to port -out of our jurisdiction or to ask another housing authority to absorb those families. SAHA is seeking approval to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA) and Anaheim Housing Authority (AHA) to enhance our services and save time for families who are moving between our housing authorities. This MOA is intended to simplify, facilitate, and improve inter -jurisdictional administration of the Housing Choice Voucher Program in Orange County by eliminating often cumbersome procedures that would otherwise be necessary under Portability requirements. Currently when a family requests to exercise their right to port -out to OCHA or AHA's jurisdiction, the process can take an additional 30 — 45 calendar days because the Receiving PHA must collect new documentation and issue a new voucher to the family. Under this MOA, when a family exercises their right to port -out, SAHA would only need to request an inspection of the assisted -unit requested by the