"INVESTIGATION RESULTS - Sgt. Kyle Bistline of the Palmdale Sheriff's Station examines marijuana plants found in a Section 8-subsidized home in the 38000 block of San Mateo Drive in Palmdale." Valley Press files
Posted on 07/15/2007 9:21:30 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Nearly 100 Antelope Valley households have lost their Section 8 subsidies in the first five months of 2007, a result of intensive local enforcement efforts aimed at identifying recipients who defraud the aid program or break program rules, officials say. Lancaster and Palmdale, with matching contributions from 5th District County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, have spent their own money to hire Section 8 investigators - a move that has netted hundreds of tenants defrauding the system.
"We're very happy with our level of enforcement," said Kelly Long, a spokeswoman for Palmdale's Public Safety Office. "We have worked with Section 8 for several years now, and as they've been able to add investigators, things have really been able to kind of jump up."
Section 8 is a federally funded housing assistance program that helps households pay their rent. Funding for the program comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, but the program is operated by the Housing Authority of Los Angeles County.
Five years ago, Palmdale had just shy of 2,000 Section 8 tenants. That number was down to 1,014 at the end of May. In late 2005, Lancaster had 2,047 Section 8 households; now it has 1,790.
From Jan. 1 to May 31 of this year, 39 households in Lancaster and 54 in Palmdale have lost their Section 8 subsidies.
"This is a very incremental process," Lancaster City Manager Bob Lasala said. "It's constant, steady pressure and enforcement on those who are irresponsible participants in the program."
Frequent terminations
Lancaster and Palmdale had a total of 2,804 Section 8 households at the end of May, and from Jan. 1 to May 31, 93 households were booted from the program.
(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...
"INVESTIGATION RESULTS - Sgt. Kyle Bistline of the Palmdale Sheriff's Station examines marijuana plants found in a Section 8-subsidized home in the 38000 block of San Mateo Drive in Palmdale." Valley Press files
IMO there shouldn’t even be “section 8” housing — anywhere.
Sgt. Kyle Bistline of the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station and Palmdale Partners said investigations have been pretty steady so far this year. He also said most of the Section 8 homes deputies visit are in violation of program rules.
“From our standpoint, 95% of the places we go to are in violation and need to be terminated,” he said. “Here’s the bottom line: You’re getting subsidized housing. Those are our tax dollars, and there is a list of rules you need to follow.”
I saw a London based Yotel (airplane material in small room with toilet laptop acces, kinda like a small jail cell made with airplane plastics) with a cafeteria/resteraunt.
I thought that would be a good housing system for single homeless people.
I don’t believe down on luck or folks with mental/physical disorders that keep them in low income should be tossed on the street.
I agree section 8 has become one govt. mess over the decades.
Some neighborhood homes that are worth allot of money get the Section 8 approved and it really brings the property values down with those who trash the low income homes.
So put them up in your house. Or, contribute to a charity that gives them free apartments. When you make me pay for it, you are stealing from me.
The municipalities in the story look like they really let enforcement go to hell over the years. Which is typical for a government agency.
My sister who has severe bipolar depression is on Section 8 and it enables her to stay out of a hell hole called a public institution. It’s less expensive in the long run also. She can also lead a somewhat “normal” life instead of being warehoused with other patients/clients.
I know it’s fun to say dump the whole program but some people truly need it. However, it should be strictly regulated and enforcement pursued diligently. It’s the fraudsters that ruin it for everyone else. You enter into a contract with Section 8 to pay for your share of the rent on time every month. The amount is determined by them doing a full financial investigation on you. If you fail to keep up your end, the contract is suspended and you end up being evicted.
I agree with you.
A few yrs back...I came across several black couples defrauding section 8. Another black man on disability another fraud. [He was upset with Bush ‘cause it had become increasingly difficult to keep up the fraud.] I was shocked by their attitudes toward these frauds.
We do give.
I need to clue you in on something.
The govt. steals from you everyday and again in April.
“Five years ago, Palmdale had just shy of 2,000 Section 8 tenants. That number was down to 1,014 at the end of May. In late 2005, Lancaster had 2,047 Section 8 households; now it has 1,790”.
...that’s nice!/~sarc, but it’s meaningless!! There are millions of Section 8 rip-off artists. Virtually every one of them! Thanks to a-holes like LBJ and his “Great Society” we’ve been throwing trillions down a rat hole for decades. It IS trillions by the way. People that are in Section 8 housing today have been bred to believe that it’s thier lot in life to get free or help for housing and every other facet of thier lives. They’re all victims and this vicious circle will never end. This article is total doo-doo!
Since when is SSDI a fraud? Did you stop to think that the help one gets with that program could possibly help that person to become at least partially employed again?
A classic example of the warped view on fraud came when someone heard me complaining about the light sentence given to an L.A. “welfare queen” who had been caught defrauding the taxpayers for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
I was told: ”What do you care? It’s not your money!”
LOL...He’s been back on his feet for many years. It did help him to get back on his feet and he’s more than partially employed. He is no longer disabled. That’s what shocked me. Because he is black he felt it was his right to continue that support by SSDI.
This is a real showcase of welfare fraud, and does not mention that all the women involved had Section 8. It does, however, have a detailed breakdown on the luxury vehicles.
http://www.projo.com/news/content/welfare_suspects_07-13-07_5H6BUC4.33a7da9.html
“Since when is SSDI a fraud?”
When it is used to facilitate substance abuse. During the Clinton administration such fraud was rampant. There were several articles in the WSJ back then. One prominent fraud where chronic alcoholics receiving SSDI had their checks mailed to the local bar.
This may sound cold but I gotta ask.
Why are you letting the government take care of your family instead of doing it yourself?
You’re kidding right?
I won’t even dignify that utterly ignorant statement with a response.
Go bait someone else.
I’m sorry you feel that way.
So is he still collecting SSDI? I thought they did spot checks on folks, but maybe that’s workman’s comp.
That is why it is called “Palmpton” now
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