Boston Housing Authority warns of Section 8 voucher scam

The Boston Housing Authority (BHA) wants Hub residents to keep their eyes out for a quick cash hustle involving the illegal sale of fraudulent Section 8 housing vouchers.

The BHA reported last week that the agency had recently been approached by a number of people claiming to have purchased Section 8 vouchers. Victims were promised a BHA Section 8 voucher, worth thousands of dollars in rental subsidies, in exchange for a cash payment.

After the cash changed hands, however, the injured parties learned that the vouchers did not exist, stranding them without their money or vouchers.

Information about the illegal scam has been forwarded to the appropriate federal authorities, the BHA said in an Aug. 31 statement.

“Section 8 vouchers, which provide the holder with a federal housing subsidy to rent in the private market, are not bought and sold, but are obtained only under specific circumstances and directly from the agencies that administer them, like the Boston Housing Authority,” the statement said.

To get a Section 8 voucher from the BHA, you must be on the BHA’s waiting list and meet certain eligibility criteria. The agency’s tenant-based Section 8 waiting list was open for new applications only during a two-week period in October 2006, and is officially closed; the BHA is now issuing vouchers to families and individuals who applied during that two-week period.

And those vouchers, the agency stressed, are free.

“There is absolutely no fee involved,” the statement said. “Any claim that a Section 8 voucher costs money is inaccurate and illegal.

While the tenant-based Section 8 waiting list is closed, the BHA said that it is now accepting applications for its public housing program, as well as its project-based and moderate rehabilitation Section 8 programs, from eligible applicants.

BHA authorities are asking people who have been approached by someone claiming they can get you a Boston Housing Authority Section 8 voucher for a fee to call and report the offer to the BHA’s Legal Department at 617-988-4185. Reports can also be made to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Inspector General’s fraud hotline at 800-347-3735, or via e-mail to hotline@hudoig.gov.

Persons who would like to check their status on a BHA waiting list can call 617-988-4200.

City public health agency: Watch out for phony lead paint inspectors

If somebody tells you he’s a licensed lead paint inspector and asks you for money to take a look at your property, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) says you should send him packing.

The health agency is advising city residents to reject any solicitation by a person making that claim, warning last week that one or more men have approached homeowners in recent months claiming to be lead paint inspectors and charging $300 or more for fraudulent inspections and bogus paperwork.

“We do not solicit business or charge property owners for lead inspections,” said Tom Plant, director of the BPHC’s Lead Poisoning Prevention program.

The commission said in an Aug. 30 statement that it has recently received several complaints from homeowners, primarily landlords required to have lead paint inspections on property they rent through the Section 8 housing program.

Plant said those homeowners thought they had received valid compliance letters from the supposed inspector, only to be told by the Boston Housing Authority or the Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership, which assign Section 8 vouchers, that their certificates were faked.

U.S. Housing and Urban Development regulations require that property owners who rent to residents receiving the Section 8 federal housing subsidy must pass an inspection and possess a compliance certificate before accepting tenants.

Commission inspectors authorized by the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are required to present a valid Massachusetts lead inspector/risk assessor’s license, a BPHC-issued photo identification card, and a valid Massachusetts driver’s license.

The commission is assisting the Boston Police Department with its investigation, according to the BPHC statement.

If you are concerned that you have fallen victim to this scam, or if your building requires a lead inspection, call 617-534-5965 or 617-534-5966.

Fall brings a full election schedule for Hub voters

In the interest of helping Boston voters navigate the confusion surrounding this year’s slate of city elections, the Boston Board of Election Commissioners wishes to remind voters of the pertinent details of the races and polling dates for the series of contests that will be held across the city over the next two months.
Voting will take place in various parts of Boston on five Tuesdays between Sept. 11 and Nov. 6.

“The Board of Election Commissioners fully recognizes how confusing this series of elections is for the average voter. It has been very challenging for our staff, as well,” said Geraldine Cuddyer, chairwoman of the city’s Elections Department. “However, we urge voters to consult the attached list to determine which elections will be taking place in your neighborhood, or to call the Election Department at 617-635-3767 with any questions.”

While this is traditionally a non-mayoral municipal election year, the midterm resignations of state Senate President Robert Travaglini and state Sen. Jarrett Barrios led to the scheduling of special state elections.

A special primary election to fill Barrios’ seat will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 11, with 13 Boston precincts participating in the contest — all seven Charlestown precincts and six in the Allston-Brighton neighborhood. The final election for this seat will be held on Oct. 9.

City Council Districts Seven and Nine will see preliminary municipal elections this fall. In District Seven, incumbent City Councilor Chuck Turner faces challenges from Carlos Henriquez and Althea Garrison. District Nine incumbent Jerry McDermott is not seeking re-election. Mark Ciommo, Alessandro Alex Selvig, Rosie Hanlon, James Joseph Jenner, Gregory Glennon and Timothy Schofield are seeking a place on the November ballot to bid for the District Nine council seat.

In an important change, there will be no preliminary municipal election in the race for at-large City Council seats.

Nine candidates qualified for the ballot this year, one more than the eight that usually move on to the November election. The Boston City Council passed a home rule petition, enacted by the state Legislature and signed by Gov. Deval Patrick, which will allow all nine candidates to appear on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The only day that all Boston voters will go to the polls this calendar year is for the municipal election on Nov. 6.

Voters with questions may also contact the Election Department via the department’s Web site: www.cityofboston.gov
/elections.