HCV Questions about the "Shortfall"
The Housing and Urban Development (HUD) identified Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) as falling into a “shortfall” status as of December 2024. This means that due to increasing housing assistance costs, CMHA's Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) will exceed the agency’s funding from HUD.
- Will current participants be terminated from the program?
CMHA anticipates not terminating families from the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program due to the shortfall identification.
- Will CMHA continue issuing Vouchers for new admissions to the HCV program?
CMHA has immediately suspended pulling families from its HCV wait list and issuing new vouchers with the exception of vouchers for our special programs. Those include for the following:
- Vouchers designated for Homeless Veteran families receiving case management services from the VA.
- Mainstream vouchers set for families with non-elderly disabled household members.
- NED2 (non-elderly disabled) which are designated for non-elderly persons transitioning from a long-term care facility back to a home
- Will CMHA extend an existing voucher once it expires after the 90 days?
CMHA will not extend voucher terms beyond the initial 90 days, unless the family qualifies for a reasonable accommodation for a disabled household member. Families are also not entitled to a hearing on the expiration of a voucher so none will be granted.
- Are there any exceptions to extend an existing voucher after it expires?
Exceptions are only for reasonable accommodations for families that have a person with a disability.
- The request for an extension must be submitted to CMHA, in writing, prior to the voucher expiration date.
- Requests should be submitted to .
- Will CMHA issue a moving voucher if a participant wants to move to another unit?
Currently, assisted families wanting to move to a different unit will be issued a 90-day voucher to find a new unit. CMHA will also issue a voucher to a currently assisted family wanting to port/move to another jurisdiction outside of Hamilton County.
RTA’s will continue to be processed for currently issued voucher holders and for families changing units. CMHA will ensure that all units meet HUD’s Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and enforce all HCV Program rules.
It is important that families stay in compliance with the HCV program rules such as:
- timely completing your annual recertification;
- reporting all household and income changes within 30 days of the change;
- maintaining the unit compliant with Housing Quality Standards (HQS); and
- abiding by the terms of your lease agreement.
- Will CMHA accept Port in from another jurisdiction?
Yes, CMHA is accepting families porting/moving from other jurisdictions. All HAP and utility assistance will be paid by CMHA. CMHA will bill the initiating housing authority for the administration of the voucher.