The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the City of Indianapolis signed an agreement to take possession over the Indianapolis Housing Agency (IHA).
HUD and the city government said this action was designed to “restore public confidence” in the IHA. In a press statement, HUD said this action follows a commitment with the city from last September to “pursue a collaborative approach to address IHA’s numerous operational, administrative, and financial failures that have had a detrimental impact on Indianapolis residents.”
This action will not impact IHA residents’ access to their housing or vouchers. IHA’s Interim CEO Greg Stocking will remain in his job, but the IHA board has been replaced by Kimberly Wize, HUD’s Indiana field office director, and the city will appoint a local recovery monitor.
“This one-of-a-kind partnership between the City of Indianapolis and HUD acknowledges that a safe, stable, and habitable home is at the core of overall health and wellbeing,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “Today’s partnership ensures that IHA – a fundamental resource in providing housing to Indianapolis’ most vulnerable neighbors – will be fully functional, transparent, and accountable.”
“Seeing the conditions and dysfunction that have negatively impacted IHA residents, and numerous operational issues hindering the agency, HUD knew it had to take strong action to correct course as soon as possible,” said HUD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Public and Indian Housing Richard J. Monocchio. “But our efforts will be even stronger in partnership with the City and Mayor Hogsett. We have a lot of work ahead, but we intend to deliver change for residents living in IHA communities that have already waited too long.”
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