Great Falls Housing Authority

The Great Falls Public Housing Authority, to maintain our credibility with applicants and participating families, owners, HUD and the community as a whole, will strictly enforce program requirements. When families, owners, or housing authority employees fail to adhere to program requirements, the housing authority must take appropriate action. The action taken will be based on an assessment of the particular situation.

If as a result of its assessment the housing authority determines that the family, owner, or housing authority employee has abused the program, immediate action will be taken to remedy the situation. The housing authority may at any time deny program assistance to an applicant or terminate program assistance for participant if any family member has committed fraud, bribery, or any other corrupt or criminal act in connection with and Federal Housing program. The housing authority action will vary, depending upon the extent and nature of the abuse. The Great Falls Housing Authority must determine that a preponderance of evidence demonstrates that the action taken by the family, owner, or employee was willful and intentional, in order to terminate assistance or employment on the basis of fraud or abuse.

"Fraud" and "abuse" mean a single act or pattern of actions made with the intent to deceive or mislead, constituting a false statement, omission, or concealment of a substantive fact. Fraud and abuse result in the payment of housing choice voucher program funds in violation of program requirements. This often occurs when families or owners intentionally fail to report required information or report incorrect information to obtain benefits to which they are not entitled. Fraud is a legal term that involves taking legal action to pursue a remedy of the situation, such as terminating program assistance.

•	Intentionally misrepresenting income, assets, and allowances.
•	Intentionally misrepresenting family composition.
•	Initiating and participating in bribes or other illegal activities.

•	Collecting extra or "side" payments in excess of the family share of rent or requiring the family to perform extraordinary services in lieu of payments.
•	Charging families for utilities that are the owner's responsibility.
•	Collecting housing assistance payments for units not occupied by program participants.
•	Bribing housing authority employees to certify a standard unit as passing HQS.
•	Other HQS violations involving misrepresentation and deceit.

•	Willful passing of units not meeting HQS and/or local standards.
•	Accepting kickbacks from owners, managers, or families to permit participation or to allow rents in excess of the rent reasonableness limitations.
•	Intentionally calculating total tenant payment or housing assistance payments incorrectly
•	Intentionally making incorrect determinations of family eligibility, including certifying as eligible otherwise ineligible applicants, coaching applicants to falsify documents, or changing an applicant's position on the waiting list.

If you suspect fraud report it to the Great Falls Housing Authority or call the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, 2900 4th Avenue North, Suite 302; Billings, Montana 59101. Phone: (406) 247-4068 or email: THanes@hudoig.gov