11:59 PM CDT on Wednesday, June 1, 2005

BY KEVIN PETERS / KVUE News

Thirteen people were arrested Wednesday, accused of housing fraud.

Authorities say the 13 lied about their income level or job status in order to qualify for taxpayer-funded public housing assistance.

High school cafeteria worker Gloria Almaguer may not have much. But she's proud of what she does have.

Public assistance has helped provide a steady home for her family. Her daughter is now a college student at Texas State.

But while Almaguer is an example of how public housing supports families, 13 others arrested Wednesday show how the program can be taken advantage of.

At a press conference, authorities say the 13 received more than $150,000 in services they didn't qualify for.

Austin Housing Authority President James Hargrove doesn't know how widespread fraud is throughout the system, but did issue a stern warning to others abusing public housing on the taxpayer's tab.

"This is your time to come forward and report your income accurately," he said. "If not you're going to suffer the consequences just as the 13 families did today."

In addition to the 13 arrests, while police were investigating the housing fraud they discovered and arrested 18 others wanted for various reasons.

The majority had outstanding warrants for violent crimes.