Office of Inspector General

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is an essential component of Florida Housing that provides independent, objective assurance and consulting services designed to add value and improve operations.

The OIG serves as a central point of coordination and is responsible for activities that provide accountability, integrity, and efficiency. This is accomplished by the OIG conducting independent audits, investigations and other accountability activities. The OIG’s purpose is to promote economy and efficiency, and to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse in programs and operations carried out or financed by Florida Housing.

Organizational Structure and Independence

The Inspector General reports administratively to Florida Housing’s Executive Director and functionally to the Florida Housing Board of Directors/Audit Committee. The main functions within the OIG include internal audits, investigations, and other consulting and technical services, which are designed to comply with Florida Statutes.

Professional Standards

The OIG subscribes to the following standards in the conduct of internal audit and investigation activities:

Duties and Responsibilities

As outlined in Section 20.055, Florida Statutes, some of the specific duties and responsibilities of the Inspector General include:

  • Providing direction for, supervising, and coordinating audits, investigations, and management reviews relating to the programs and operations of Florida Housing;
  • Keeping the Board of Directors informed of fraud, abuses, and deficiencies relating to programs and operations administered or financed by Florida Housing, recommending corrective actions concerning fraud, abuses, and deficiencies, and reporting on the progress made in implementing corrective action;
  • Reviewing the actions taken by Florida Housing to improve program performance and making recommendations for improvement;
  • Conducting, supervising, and coordinating activities that promote economy and efficiency and prevent or detect fraud, waste, and abuse; and
  • Assessing the reliability and validity of information provided on performance measures and standards and making recommendations as needed.
Internal Audit

The Internal Audit Section provides independent, objective assurance, and consulting services designed to add value and improve operations. It helps Florida Housing accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluating and improving the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes. Additionally, the Internal Audit Section has the responsibility to assist Florida Housing management in determining whether adequate controls exist and risks are mitigated to ensure the orderly and efficient conduct of business.

Investigations Section

The Investigations Section works to detect, deter, prevent and eradicate fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, misconduct and other abuses involving program benefit applicants/recipients, Florida Housing employees, and contracted entities of Florida Housing. The section receives complaints and requests for assistance from many sources, including the Office of the Chief Inspector General, Florida Housing or contracted agency employees, and the general public via website complaint form submission, telephone, letter, fax, or email.

Complaints

Florida Housing does not have jurisdiction over all housing matters in the State of Florida.  For further assistance, please refer to the information listed below to ensure that your concerns are addressed by the entity with proper jurisdiction:

 
Areas of Concern Entity with Jurisdiction - Contact Information to File a Complaint
Section 8 Housing Assistance Housing Choice - Section 8 vouchers are issued by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  For questions or complaints about HUD rental programs, including Housing Choice (Section 8) Vouchers:

HUD OIG has implemented a new system for the intake of Hotline complaints.  It is your option to report the matter online (24 hr. accessibility) at www.hudoig.gov/hotline or telephonically by calling (800) 347-3735 between the hours of 8am to 8pm eastern standard time.
 
Financial Industry:
Banking and Mortgages
Mortgage Lender: If you have any concerns about your mortgage lender, then you may wish to contact one of the following agencies:
Landlord-Tenant Disputes Tenant/Landlord Law in Florida is regulated by the Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services. For an overview of the law and information on how to file a complaint go to:
Civil Matters: If either party (landlord or tenant(s) claims the other has failed to do things required by the lease or the law, or if problems arise that are not covered by the lease or the law, then the only authority that can force resolution is a civil court. 
Fair Housing Rights If you feel your fair housing rights have been be violated, then you may file an inquiry with:
You can speak with an FHEO intake specialist by calling (800) 669-9777 or (800) 877-8339.
Mold Issues in Apartments Who can I call if I suspect that I have a mold problem, or if I want more information on mold?

For additional information about the health effects of mold exposure and information on the safe removal of mold, please call your County Health Department's Environmental Health Office, the Florida Department of Health, Radon and Indoor Air Program at (800) 543-8279, or review the respective mold webpages of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you have a mold complaint about an apartment, hotel or workplace, see our information on apartments and hotels or on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in workplaces.

What is the Florida Department of Health doing about mold?  http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/mold/index.html
 
File a Complaint with the Florida Housing Office of Inspector General
  • If you are aware of fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement or misconduct involving a Florida Housing employee, program benefit applicant/recipient, or contracted provider, please complete and submit the online complaint form for the OIG to review at Report Fraud, Waste or Abuse or send an email to OIG@floridahousing.org.
  • Report Section 8 housing assistance fraud to HUD OIG, the source of the funding online at www.hudoig.gov/hotline or call (800) 347-3735 between 8am to 8pm eastern standard time.
  • If you have a complaint and/or need assistance regarding a program benefit, advisor/advisory agency, apartment building management of a complex in our affordable housing portfolio, or any other issue that does not fall in to one of the above categories, please submit it to Public Inquiries.