jamieooh
12-06-2011, 10:35 PM
Feds: Seattle welfare recipient lives in million dollar home
by CHRIS INGALLS / KING 5 News
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 6:16 PM
Updated today at 12:45 PM
SEATTLE -- She lives in a beautiful waterfront home on Seattle’s Lake Washington. Yet, she's on welfare assistance.
This week federal agents moved in to put a stop to it. They raided her south Lake Washington home armed with a search warrant.
KING 5 News is not naming the woman or her husband because they have not been criminally charged.
Search warrant documents unsealed Friday in federal court reveal that she received more than $1,200 a month in public housing vouchers, plus monthly cash from the federal and state government for a disability, as well as food stamps.
Property records show the woman lives in a 2,500 square-foot home, with gardens and a boat dock, that is valued at $1.2 million.
Records show she has received welfare benefits while living in the plush home since 2003. Records also show she truthfully provided her address when she applied for benefits.
How could the government allow housing subsidy dollars to someone who openly lives in one of Seattle’s most desirable neighborhoods?
A federal official spoke to KING 5 News on condition of anonymity. He says the housing voucher program provides coupons that help low-income people pay their rent. He says it allows people to get out of housing projects and move into the place of their choosing. However, he says a “flaw” is that the program doesn’t analyze where people are living, even if it is at a ritzy address that should raise a red flag.
Court records show the couple gave money to charities and traveled around the world to exotic places like Turkey, Tel Aviv and resort towns in Mexico.
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Feds--Seattle-welfare-recipient-lived-in-million-dollar-home-134943613.html
by CHRIS INGALLS / KING 5 News
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 6:16 PM
Updated today at 12:45 PM
SEATTLE -- She lives in a beautiful waterfront home on Seattle’s Lake Washington. Yet, she's on welfare assistance.
This week federal agents moved in to put a stop to it. They raided her south Lake Washington home armed with a search warrant.
KING 5 News is not naming the woman or her husband because they have not been criminally charged.
Search warrant documents unsealed Friday in federal court reveal that she received more than $1,200 a month in public housing vouchers, plus monthly cash from the federal and state government for a disability, as well as food stamps.
Property records show the woman lives in a 2,500 square-foot home, with gardens and a boat dock, that is valued at $1.2 million.
Records show she has received welfare benefits while living in the plush home since 2003. Records also show she truthfully provided her address when she applied for benefits.
How could the government allow housing subsidy dollars to someone who openly lives in one of Seattle’s most desirable neighborhoods?
A federal official spoke to KING 5 News on condition of anonymity. He says the housing voucher program provides coupons that help low-income people pay their rent. He says it allows people to get out of housing projects and move into the place of their choosing. However, he says a “flaw” is that the program doesn’t analyze where people are living, even if it is at a ritzy address that should raise a red flag.
Court records show the couple gave money to charities and traveled around the world to exotic places like Turkey, Tel Aviv and resort towns in Mexico.
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Feds--Seattle-welfare-recipient-lived-in-million-dollar-home-134943613.html