Housing Fraud Investigator

Housing Choice Voucher Program Manager

Salary: $18.73/hr. - $21.85/hr. (Depending on qualifications)

Manage and monitor fraud detection and program integrity within the City's Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Oversee fraud investigations, restitution, and prevention efforts; coordinate referrals; track repayment agreements; and prepare correspondence related to fraud or abuse. Work independently to maintain, organize, and manage paper and electronic client and landlord records in compliance with program requirements. General supervision is provided by the Manager of Housing and CDBG.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. All behaviors comply with the Code of Conduct & Rules of Behavior outlined in Chapter 8 of the General Government Policies and Procedures Manual.
2. Prepare file records for document scanning and uploading to an electronic database by sorting or classifying information according to guidelines such as content, purpose, user criteria, or chronological, alphabetical, or numerical order.
3. Oversee fraud detection by surveying and reviewing client and staff transactions within a computerized system and hard copy files for inconsistencies; perform criminal background checks; review records for income and occupancy verifications; resolve complaints via correspondence related to fraud and conduct follow up inquiries and interviews as needed.
4. Review and verify financial, asset, and allowance documentation to determine income eligibility, calculate rent, and support fraud restitution activities, and ensuring compliance with program requirements.
5. Conduct third-party verifications with external sources to confirm the accuracy and completeness of applicant and participant information provided; perform criminal background checks on current participants, following program requirements and applicable regulations.
6. Analyze and process assorted reports from HUD secure systems, internal housing databases, and third-party sources to identify, investigate, and monitor potential fraud within the HCV program.
7. Complete fraud restitution by gathering and compiling documents and verifying case details, information, and facts to validate program violations; conducting case conferences and interviews with alleged violators; establishing promissory notes and payment contracts; and managing debt collection activities on fraud-related over payments.
8. Process checks requests for payments to landlords, participants, and partner housing agencies, and research and resolve uncashed or returned payments through direct coordination with all parties.
9. Work independently to create, maintain, organize, retrieve, and purge paper and electronic records for clients, landlords, and program documentation, ensuring accuracy, accessibility, and proper records management in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations.
10. Maintain and improve filing systems, conduct routine audits for quality and compliance, and coordinate on-site and off-site archiving.
11. Generate and analyze reports; issue required correspondence; actively track outstanding requests for information through receipt and resolution; and coordinate follow-up with designated staff to ensure completion.

Other duties include investigating allegations of program fraud and reviewing findings with appropriate staff, performing administrative duties including answering the phone, scheduling appointments, and preparing correspondence, and performing other duties as assigned.

Minimum Job Requirements

Education: High School Diploma or GED. Preferred: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Sociology, Psychology, Social Work, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, or related field.

Experience: Two (2) years of experience working in a housing agency, real estate, property management, social services, client services, customer services, data management, compliance oversight or a related department or organization.

Licenses and Certificates: Possession of a valid driver's license. HCV Occupancy, Eligibility, Income and Rent Calculations Certification or ability to obtain within 12 months of employment.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Physical Requirements / Work Environment

This position does not require a physical for employment. Applicants with disabilities meeting the job requirements and capable of performing the essential functions of the job, either on their own or with reasonable accommodations, are encouraged to apply.