The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is an independent body that conducts audits and investigations to prevent fraud, waste of funds or resources, mismanagement, or other improper acts involving CHA business. Anyone can anonymously file a complaint with the OIG. Once filed, the OIG will review it to determine if an investigation is warranted. Here's a recent case.
Anna Cartagena, a former participant in the HCV Program, and her husband William Lorenzo Roman, a former HCV property owner, both pleaded guilty to one amended count of Felony Theft by Deception, were sentenced to two (2) years in prison, paid $40,000 in restitution to CHA (before entering their plea) and were ordered by the court to pay the remaining restitution of $157,478 to CHA.
The OIG found that from May 2005 to June 2019, Cartagena illegally received more than $153,000 in CHA housing benefits by living in and owning a property with Roman. As her property owner, Roman was paid over $44,000 in rent payments from CHA. In addition, Cartagena did not disclose several sources of income or her shared ownership with Roman of a second home, which was occupied by her mother (also an HCV participant) and stepfather.
As stated in the HCV Program Family Obligations, participant families receiving housing assistance must not reside in a unit owned by a spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sister or brother of any member of the family (related by blood or marriage). The only exception to this rule is if an accommodation is needed for a family member who is a person with disabilities, a request is submitted online through CHA's Reasonable Accommodation Portal or by other means (i.e., RENTCafé), and CHA approves.
To learn more about Reasonable Accommodations, including examples and further instructions, visit thecha.org. | 
