For Current Housing Choice Voucher Residents

On this page, we provide program participants with key information, forms, and answers to questions about program requirements and procedures.  We also provide links to forms and helpful outside resources.

It is important to note that The Oak Park Housing Authority is a Full-Service Housing Authority.  This means that a case manager is assigned to each HCV Program family and will provide all the necessary services from annual re-examinations, to rent adjustments, to moving, and HQS inspections. Your case manager’s contact information can be found on our contact us and/or staff pages.

Annual Re-Examinations

Each year OPHA conducts a re-examination of our HCV families to determine their eligibility to continue to participate in our HCV Programs.  During this re-examination, families are required to provide proof of their current income, assets, and family composition to the OPHA.  The annual re-examinations are typically completed by the beginning of the new lease renewal year with the process beginning approximately 120 days before the new lease renewal year.

What is involved in the Re-Examination? 

The OPHA will mail a packet to the HCV family’s current address which contains documents and forms that are required to be completed and returned to the OPHA.  Once the OPHA receives the completed packet,  staff will begin to determine your continued eligibility.  For a list of required documents and forms, please click here.

Moving

HCV families may be able to move from their current unit provided they meet the eligibility requirements below:

• Have lived in their current unit for at least a year and be eligible to move under their current lease agreement
• Have a current, completed annual re-examination
• Have given notice to their current landlord of their intent to move

When a family’s eligibility has been confirmed, they must then attend a CTM (Certified to Move) Briefing.  This briefing is mandatory and will include information about any changes to the HCV Program.  During the briefing, the HCV family will be given a current Housing Choice Voucher that will be valid for 180 days (this includes a 120-day extension).  Briefings can last up to two (2) hours and HCV families should plan accordingly.  Briefings are conducted on the first (1^st) and third (3^rd) Wednesday of each month at 10:00 AM.

To obtain the necessary forms and documents to begin the CTM process, click here.

HCV families may have the right to use their Housing Choice Voucher anywhere in the continental United States, Hawaii and its territories, provided that the unit is located within the jurisdiction of a Public Housing Agency (PHA) that administers the HCV Program.  This process is known as Portability.

Out-Bound Portability  

OPHA HCV families may use the Out-Bound Portability Process to move out of Oak Park provided that they have met the following eligibility requirements:

• Have lived in their current unit for at least a year and be eligible to move under their current lease agreement
• Have a current, completed annual re-examination
• Have given notice to their current landlord of their intent to move
• Have been issued a current Housing Choice Voucher by the OPHA

To obtain the necessary forms and documents to begin the Out-Bound Portability Process, click here.

In-Bound Portability

If you wish to move into Oak Park using the Portability In-Bound Process you must contact your present Housing Authority and have the following documents sent to the Oak Park Housing Authority:

• Current Voucher
• Family Portability Information – HUD Form 52665
• Family Report – HUD Form 50058 and related verification information and income and asset documents
• Birth certificates and social security cards for all household members

When the OPHA receives the above-required information and documents from your current Housing Authority, you must attend one of our In-Bound Portability Briefings.  In-Bound Portability briefings are conducted on the second (2^nd) and fourth (4^th) Wednesday of each month promptly at 9 AM.  No one will be admitted to the briefing after 9 AM and due to the length of the briefing and the limited space, children are not allowed. Our office is located at 21 South Boulevard, Oak Park, IL 60302.

Due to funding restrictions, OPHA is not currently absorbing any in-bound portable vouchers and will bill the initial housing authority.

To assist you in your search for housing within Oak Park, you may find the following site helpful.  Oak Park Regional Housing Center, 1041 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL 708-848-7150.  https://liveinoakpark.com/

Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspections

The OPHA conducts inspections on all units leased to our HCV families prior to initial occupancy. The OPHA uses HUD’s Housing Quality Standards when conducting these inspections. The OPHA has also adopted the Housing Code Regulations of the Village of Oak Park as part of its inspection process.

In addition to the HQS inspections prior to initial occupancy, the OPHA conducts biennial HQS inspections on the unit every other year, based on its location within one of the Village of Oak Park’s twelve Census Tracts (8121 through 8132). If a unit is located in an even-numbered Census Tract, it will be inspected during the even years and if a unit is located in an odd-numbered Census Tract, it will be inspected during the odd years.  For more information about when HQS inspections are conducted and a checklist to assist you in preparing for your HQS inspection click here.