Housing Council chief disputes AP reports of alleged wrong-doing

Dear Editor,

Amid the reports of scandalous behavior surrounding management of public housing programs from the Associated Press and other local news reporting avenues n our organization, the Louisiana Housing Council, Inc. feels the need to set the record straight for public housing agencies in our state.

The Louisiana Housing Council is the professional organization of Louisiana Housing Authorities and is the state chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO). We provide training and other services to affordable housing professionals throughout the state. We represent more than 100 agency members from Public Housing, Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Programs, and Community Development Programs.

The Associated Press article released in October infers that “mismanagement” is rampant in public housing agencies while in fact just four percent of all of the 3,000 plus Housing Authorities in the nation are troubled. Therefore, 96 percent of the 3,000 plus are either high or standard performers under HUD’s Public Housing Assessment System. This detailed assessment system has components that measure four different areas of the public housing authority n management, financial, resident satisfaction, and physical assets.

In addition, Public Housing Authorities are measured by standards that are much higher than many of their other “sister” affordable housing programs. Yet 96 percent are still high and standard performers.

In our own state of Louisiana, many Public Housing Authorities have been faced with rebuilding and repairing housing that meets the needs of some of the most vulnerable populations in our country. Elderly families on fixed income, displaced workers in an economy that continues to be on a downslide, as well as the underemployed and single parents who work yet don’t make enough income to support their families.

Hard work in hard times, yet Louisiana Public Housing Authorities are among the 99.6 percent of HUD’s entities who met and fulfilled their obligation requirement for ARRA funds n an action lauded by HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.

Management of public housing authorities is no simple task n it takes diligence and continuous retraining on the part of the management staff of the housing authority and commitment from the Board of Commissioners. There are checks and balances already in place in the local, state and federal government to ensure the protection of HUD’s assets. As with any governmental entity, audits and reports are required by all three of these levels, and with the information technology of today, reports and responses are often required almost instantaneously. Public housing authorities are required to follow a myriad of laws that overlap from local, state and federal and are more complicated than private landlords, yet 96 percent are still high and standard performers.

So, in the midst of bad publicity across the state and nation, we would like to set the record straight. Our Louisiana Public Housing Authorities have maintained stable High and Standard Performer ratings consistently since the inception of HUD’s current rating system in 1998. By and large they comply with the local, state and federal laws. These agencies have committed and honest agency staff members and commissioners. Our membership is a part of the dedicated housing professionals who believe in doing their jobs and doing them to the best of their abilities.

If you would like more information about our organization, feel free to check out our website at www.lanahro.org or contact your local Housing Authority. They would welcome your interest in your community!

Cindy Martin,

President, La. Housing

Council Inc.