false fraud accusation - Section 8 pulling voucher on my tenant

[Eyal B.]

I'm looking to help protect my tenant.

Section 8 sent a notice that they'll be pulling the tenants voucher and permanently terminating her section 8 eligibility effective 7-31-14. The allegations are suspicion of sub-leasing back in 2006/2007. The investigation methods were to knock on her door and establish that nobody was home on more than one occasion. She often spends time in the hospital, and this could be a result of that. She has been a tenant in the unit since 2004. I have owned it since 2013. She is adamant that she has always lived there and this is a false case. I believe her.

She may have signed an agreement to pay back the rent during this period of time (around $3,800) during hearings in 2008. Her mother was dying of cancer in the hospital during these hearings, and claims that this was under duress as she would have signed anything to get back to her mother's side.

The tenant is a sweet elderly lady with multiple health issues, limited mobility, and no income or ability to work; this would be devastating for her.

Is this a sunk case? Has anybody been successful in fighting a similar situation during a section 8 hearing? Looking for advice or resources.

[Account Closed]

If you are going to get involved, you really need to get your tenant to an attorney or legal aid society asap.  What do you mean the tenant "may have signed an agreement" to pay back rent.  She signed something or she didn't.  She paid the back rent or she didn't.  Is her understanding that the housing authority is cutting her off because of the unpaid settlement? Or some other reason?  

At this point it's unlikely that's she's being cut off because of subleasing in 2007, but more likely about some other noncompliance issue, possibly including not making good on an agreement she signed.  I'd get her to an attorney or ombudsman (if your county HA has one) who can sort out what the reasons for cutting her off really are.  Don't be surprised if the issues aren't what she says they are.  Sometimes, without intending to deceive, tenants can be confused and really don't know what the hell is going on and screw up their benefits.  They fail to provide income documentation or fail to do things in a timely way but will tell you a story that is totally unrelated to what the real issue is.  In her mind she could be back there in 2007 with the subleasing issue, when in actuality the HA has been asking for tax returns or proof of income for 2013.