The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority is a federally funded agency that operates federal housing programs including Public Housing and the Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8). The agency’s funding comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development via annual appropriations approved by Congress and the President.

The mission of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority is to promote and deliver quality, well-managed homes to a diverse low-income population and, with partners, contribute to the well-being of the individuals, families and community the agency serves. That includes providing housing and housing subsidy to more than 26,000 people every day.

To steal or otherwise defraud MPHA programs and subsidies is a crime. The MPHA Board of Commissioners and agency team members are committed to ensuring tax dollars are spent appropriately and believe in an obligation to uphold public trust. The agency welcomes any information about suspected theft and/or fraud in its programs.

• A property owner (landlord) who charges more rent than what’s on the lease to receive more subsidy or rent from the tenant than the program allows.
• A business that overcharges a housing agency for goods or services, or substitutes lower-quality products in place of the promised items.
• Property owners, contractors, housing employees or others who conspire together to illegally receive housing subsidies for fake properties, etc.
• Tenant or housing applicant who lies about their income or family size, or alters official documents to make themselves appear eligible, or to pay less rent.
• A housing agency employee who takes bribes from housing applicants, contractors, property owners or others in exchange for bypassing the waiting list, or the required contracting process, or inspections.

• Call the MPHA fraud hotline and leave a voicemail: 612-821-2105
• Send an email: fraud@mplspha.org
• Send a letter to:
  Minneapolis Public Housing Authority
  Executive Offices/Fraud Reporting
  1001 Washington Ave North
  Minneapolis, MN 55401

• Call HUD’s Office of Inspector hotline: 1-800-347-3735
• Visit HUD’s Office of Inspector General website: hudoig.gov
• Send a letter to:
  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
  Office of Inspector General
  451 7th St SW
  Washington, DC 20410

Include as much of the following information as possible in your email, letter or voice message reporting fraud:

• WHO (Names, addresses, phone numbers)
• WHAT (Specific events and evidence; loss to HUD program)
• WHERE (Location, Address)
• WHEN (Date, time, frequency)
• WHY (What benefit did the violator receive?)
• HOW (What method was used?)
• Please include any documentation you have to support the allegation(s). Information that is too vague or cannot be supported can result in a closed report, without any action taken.

You may make a report anonymously. However, it may be beneficial if MPHA has additional questions to leave your contact information. Your information will be kept confidential. MPHA or HUD will investigate based on whatever information you provide and decide if there is enough evidence to take further action. In addition to cutting off housing subsidies to tenants or property owners who commit fraud, MPHA will report illegal conduct to HUD, law enforcement, or other appropriate agencies. Please note MPHA cannot provide updates on the progress or outcome of fraud investigations due to federal and state privacy laws.