SCCHA Alleged Abuse Reporting Process

We place a high priority on program integrity – preventing fraud and assuring that housing assistance payments are paid only on behalf of qualified and eligible participants. When people cheat the Housing Choice Voucher program, they’re taking resources from families who need affordable housing.

If you see Housing Choice Voucher program violations, please report it so we can investigate further. You are encouraged to report incidences of potential abuse/program violations promptly. Anything you report is confidential.

Report Suspected Program Violations

SCCHA wants to get help to families who need it.
Please help us keep the system honest.

If you suspect fraud, please report it.

There are three ways to report fraud:

Online

Simply fill out our Fraud Allegation Online Form

View Form
or

In Person

Visit our offices at 505 W. Julian Street
San Jose, CA 95110 to speak to our staff

or

Call

Call our main line at (408) 275-8770. You may also request a form to be mailed to you

What cities do you investigate?

We investigate all allegations of program abuse on rental subsidies within Santa Clara County only, including: San Jose, Gilroy, Morgan Hill, San Martin, Milpitas, Campbell, Los Gatos, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Monte Sereno, and unincorporated areas of the County.

What happens after I report an allegation?

Once we get a report, we’ll look into it. A specialized department staff gets assigned to the case. If they find program abuse is taking place, they’ll take appropriate action against the participant or owner.

Will you tell them I was the one who reported them?

No, all reports are kept confidential. The information you provide is strictly confidential. When information is brought forward about possible program abuse, we conduct an independent investigation--without revealing the name of any person who brought it to our attention.

Will I be informed of the result of the program abuse investigation?

No. Because of confidentiality requirements, we’re not able to make any statements regarding the status of any investigation or results.

I reported program abuse last month, how come nothing changed?

Fair and thorough investigations take time. Be assured that every allegation will be investigated, and if program abuse is found, we will take the appropriate action.

What should I report?

To learn more about the requirements of our program, policies can be found within our Administrative Plan. Examples of violations include:

  • Unreported income
  • Extra people in the unit
  • Landlord accepting extra money on the side
  • Household member no longer living in the unit
  • Renting from a relative
  • Owner accepting Housing Assistance payments for a vacant unit
  • Owner living in the same rental unit as the program participant
  • Additional people living in the home without approval from the Housing Authority and landlord
  • Tenant subleasing all or part of the rental unit
  • Side payments. This is when the tenant is paying more rent to the landlord than the amount stated on the Tenancy Addendum to the Lease
  • Tenant charging a live-in aide rent
  • Committing a serious criminal act
  • Misstatements of facts
  • Omission of facts
  • Making false statements
  • Lying on personal declaration forms
  • Failure to comply with program requirements
  • Failure to report all income and/or assets
  • Failure to report changes in income or household composition