Aurora Housing Authority reports Section 8 fraud

March 8, 2008
By ANDRE SALLES asalles@scn1.com
AURORA -- An investigation into Section 8 voucher fraud discovered a trail from Kansas to the Aurora Housing Authority, and has resulted in the eviction of eight families who used the false vouchers in Aurora, according to Housing Authority Executive Director Rick Brace.

The investigation began at the Kansas City Housing Authority, Brace said, where agents from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found fake vouchers being handed out. Several of the families who accepted those vouchers transferred to Aurora -- a common occurrence, Brace said.

In late February, HUD contacted Brace and informed him of the investigation. Agents from HUD's Office of the Inspector General came to Aurora near the end of last month, Brace said, and tracked down the families using the fake vouchers.

"All of our processing was done correctly, and the participants have been residing in Aurora and illegally receiving assistance," Brace said.

A total of 11 families were identified, Brace said. Eight of them had been residing in Aurora, and seven of those admitted to participating in the scheme. All eight have had their Section 8 benefits rescinded, although there is a 30-day notice period, followed by an appeals process, should they choose to take advantage of it.

An additional three families, Brace said, had not yet leased a unit in Aurora and were denied assistance.

The fraudulent Section 8 vouchers have cost the Aurora Housing Authority at least $30,000 in illegal payments, Brace said.

Neither the Kansas City Housing Authority nor HUD's Office of the Inspector General would comment Friday.


http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beac ... 1.article#