Michelle Obama Attends Beyonce Concert
7 Weird Ways To Bug-Proof Your Picnic
Six people were arrested Wednesday for income fraud regarding residency requirements for a government-subsidized housing development in Augusta, Ga., but the sweep is just the tip of the iceberg. Warrants were issued for 80 more arrests, and so far, 54 people have been taken to jail. These individuals are being arrested on charges of theft by taking and/or providing false statements for fraudulently obtaining federal funding under the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, which is administered through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Housing Choice Voucher program.
Operation Clean House, spearheaded by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and HUD's Office of the Inspector General, focused on the 149 Georgia counties where Section 8 housing is managed by the state Department of Community Affairs. Those counties serve more than 15,000 families and provide $100 million in federal subsidies a year. The average recipient family has two to three members and receives a subsidy of between $600 to $1,000 a month.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, people receiving housing benefits to which they are not legally entitled, are not only stealing money from taxpayers but also from the people who really need the program. The fraud involved in these cases totaled approximately $1.1 million, which is money that could be returned to the program during prosecution. This money could then be distributed to people who are truly in need of financial assistance for housing.
The Section 8 program offers subsidized rental units for the elderly and those who are low-income or disabled. Eligible individuals pay a portion of the rent based on their income. The feds will cover anything above 30 percent of your adjusted monthly income up to an established limit.
The arrests are targeting people who have lied about their income and/or the number of folks in their household. Some individuals even had second jobs that they kept secret.
"We appreciate the combined efforts of the HUD Office of Inspector General, GBI and DCA to combat housing fraud by arresting those that are violating the law and depriving especially those in need of affordable housing. We have zero tolerance for such fraud and are committed to aggressively working to identify and help prosecute any individuals that would seek to defraud or abuse this essential program," said U.S. HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Edward Jennings, Jr.
GBI's director, Vernon Keenan, has asked those who have made false statements on their Section 8 application to come forward. Leniency may be granted to those individuals who are willing to correct the error of their ways. Those who are courageous enough to admit what they've done will have to leave their housing situation and pay back what they owe but will probably not face prosecution.
If there are more Section 8 cheats lurking throughout the state, Jennings has a few choice words for them:
"We have zero tolerance for [Section 8] fraud and are committed to aggressively working to identify and help prosecute any individuals that would seek to defraud or abuse this essential program."
If you know of someone who is committing Section 8 fraud and want to blow the whistle, contact 800-347-3735.
Comments: (23)
Add a comment
By: Joanne on 9/07/2010 6:35PM
I am a disabled senior citizen who worked 47 years of my life. I contacted a very rare diease and ended up spending all of my savings on healthcare after my healthcare from work ran out. I have section 8 and it is a true blessing. I follow all the rules because if I lost my housing I don't have a clue what I would do. But people who abuse the system make it hard for the folks who really need it. I think the goverment should take a look at everyone on their programs and make the necessary adjustments to the program. Goverment funds are wasted on people who fraud the goverment.
I don't have a problem with someone who really needs the help, just as I don't have a problem with people who are in this country legally, but I do have a problem with people coming to this country illegally and sucking the goverment programs dry. The same holds true for people who fraud the goverment for programs they are not entitled to. I also believe that people who rely on the goverment for services should be drug tested from time to time and held accountable for how they handle their funds. When you accept goverment help, you should be prepared to prove that you need that help. If you don't want them all up in your business, then stay away from their programs.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: stare k on 9/07/2010 10:02PM
I agree with some comments . Yes I 'am black .I have to say I know more about our race than the white peopel do . Not all blacks are lazy & want hand outs .There are afew bad apples in all races. Let the white race tell it , they are tha onle one that works .You have lazy whits too I 'am a retired hospitial worker of 25 yrs.I have heard the stories about whites being on welfare from their mom's .You all label blacks with every thing that comes around .God is looking /listing @ all the lies you all tell on us . I say all the time that , All the Pastors / whites will burn in HELL. There is no room for any one elsere . And as quiet as it is kept you all would still be treating us the way you ancestors did if u thought you could get away with it like u did back in the day . Go ahead and say what you want to . I worked for 25 yrs . my husband worked for 39 . We are both retired .All our children are grown & hold down decent paying jobs .
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Jessica Martinez on 10/17/2010 2:14PM
Georgia Department of Community Affairs is the fraud here they set people up, tamper with and falsify records, discriminate against the people they claim to be helping, that whole section 8 riot was set up to make minorities look bad they Georgia DCA wanted the news cameras there to make it look just the way people viewed it, like they are reaching out to the coummunity. Georgia DCA is being sued right now there are two cases against that office Google Hunt v. Georgia Department of Community Affairs and Braxton v Georgia Department of Community Affairs. That government agency is breaking all kinds of laws against the public they serve and doing it while using TAX PAYER MONEY WHICH BY THE WAY DOES PAY THEIR SALARIES. People always complaining about welfare people using tax money WHAT ABOUT THESE STATE WORKERS BREAKING THE LAW WHILE GETTING HIGH PAYING SALARIES WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS!
Reply to this Comment | Report This