FAQs

Vouchers Do Not have a dollar amount.

The payment standard is the maximum amount Payment standards is the maximum subsidy amount that a person may qualify for minus the utilities for the unit.  They are not the amount of rent that CMHA will pay for a unit.

Typically, yes. Voucher holders will have to pay between 30-40% of their household’s adjusted gross income.

No, CMHA no longer maintains a list of property owners. You can search for properties at https://www.affordablehousing.com/ or any other search engine online to find housing. Persons can also use newspaper and For Rent ads to search for units willing to accept a voucher.

No. Do not limit your search only to owners that previously accepted a voucher. All you need is a property owner willing to accept the housing choice voucher and enter into a contract to accept subsidy from CMHA on your behalf.

Owners are not required to pre-register to be a landlord or attend a class. Trainings are offered, but not required. Owners only have to submit a RTA to begin the move process. Owners can visit our Landlord page for additional information or give us a call at 513-977-5800.

RTA or Request for Tenancy Approval is the blue packet that must be completed by the owner and return it to our office to begin the process. This packet requests information about the potential unit and owner. The document can be electronically submitted to RTAexpress@cintimha.com or in our office.

Within 15 days of the date the completed RTA is submitted and approved, inspection team will contact the owner or agent to schedule an inspection to determine if the unit meets HUDs Housing Quality Standards. The time can vary for RTAs not completed or where the contract rent amount has to be adjusted by the owner.  An HCV inspection request may be sent to HCVinpsectionrequest@cintimha.com.

Vouchers are issued for 90 days.

Voucher holders can request a voucher extension to our office within 7 days before the voucher expires.

Extension requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by your housing specialist.

If you are wishing to lease a larger size unit, the unit must be affordable to you.  You will only qualify for the lower of the voucher size or unit size for the payment standard.  This is reviewed on a case-by-case basis once the RTA has been submitted.

It is possible for a family to move into a unit smaller than the approved voucher size as long as it doesn't create an overcrowding situation and violate CMHA’s occupancy standards Once the RTA has been submitted, it will be reviewed to determine whether or not the unit is over-crowded or not.

Voucher holders should not move into units that have not been approved. Voucher holder will be responsible for any portions of rent until the unit has passed inspection and can lead to legal consequences for the executed lease agreement with the property owner if the tenancy is not approved by CMHA.

Yes. If your property owner has agreed to accept the housing choice voucher, submit a RTA to begin the process of CMHA paying a portion of your rent to the property owner.

Income changes, whether an increase or a decrease, must be submitted within 30 days. Household compositions changes must also be submitted within 30 days as well; adding or removing members to or from your household.

Submit a portability request form to our office. Provide the new housing authority’s portability information on the form for processing. To be approved, the voucher holder must have lived or worked in Hamilton County for the past 12 months at the time of application to port from the wait list.  There are no port requirements after the voucher satisfies the initial term of their lease agreement.  It is up to the family to provide CMHA with the housing authority’s contact information for the jurisdiction that they are interested in porting to.

Contact customer service Monday – Friday 8AM – 3:30PM at 513-977-5800

You may also email: HCVhelp@cintimha.com for general Housing Choice Voucher questions.

Assistance with RTA: RTA@cintimha.com

Questions with HCV contracts: HCVcontracts@cintimha.com