Florida Woman Charged for Fraudulently Obtaining Housing Voucher

A woman from Florida has been charged with impersonating her deceased sister in order to receive taxpayer-funded rent assistance through a federal housing program for low-income individuals.

Shadaryl Eddie was arrested earlier this week in the Oakland Park area. She’s been charged with the illegal use of personal identification and grand theft involving a sum between $5,000 and $10,000, as detailed in court documents from Broward County and reported by a certain news outlet.

Reports state that on March 12, 2025, Eddie allegedly provided her landlord with a housing voucher, which she acquired using her sister’s birth certificate and Social Security card.

Four months later, the landlord received an unexpected letter from the housing authority, indicating he owed $8,357 because the voucher had been deemed invalid and acquired through fraudulent means.

Upon investigation, law enforcement found that the identity used belonged to Eddie’s sister, who had died on December 11, 2024, as recorded in the arrest report.

The landlord not only lost out on rental income due to the voucher’s disqualification but also incurred additional costs to evict Eddie, leading to a total financial setback of at least $11,000.

Eddie was evicted during the summer and moved to a new address, but is currently detained in Broward County Jail.

If her alleged fraudulent activities had continued, taxpayers would have been covering Eddie’s rent at the Miami location, as the housing authority is financed with tax dollars. The Housing Choice Voucher program, often referred to as Section 8, is designed to assist those with disabilities, low-income families, and the elderly.

Landlords can partner with the housing authority to designate their properties as Section 8, allowing rent to be paid directly by the government.

To qualify for the rental assistance program, applicants are required to meet low-income thresholds and provide identification documents, proof of residency, and proof of income, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Eddie faces potential prison sentences of up to three years for the unlawful use of personal identification and up to five years for grand theft, should she be convicted of these felony charges.

Currently, she remains in Broward County Jail without bail and has yet to enter a plea or secure legal representation.