HUD backs comprehensive review of Miami-Dade housing agency

WASHINGTON -- July 31, 2006 -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a release saying that it backs Miami-Dade County efforts to conduct a complete review of the troubled Miami-Dade Housing Agency. Commission Chairman Joe Martinez announced the creation of a special taskforce to study the problem.

"We encourage local initiatives when problems like this emerge," says HUD Assistant Secretary Orlando Cabrera, who heads up the Office of Public and Indian Housing. "We look forward to partnering with Chairman Martinez and the Affordable Housing Ad Hoc Committee to uncover any wrongdoing and recover lost funding so that residents of Miami-Dade's public housing are not adversely affected."

A recent series of articles in The Miami-Herald highlighted allegations of mismanagement of public funds by the Miami-Dade Housing Agency (MDHA). The questionable funding focuses on a $35 million HOPE VI grant MDHA received from HUD in 1999. In January, HUD notified MDHA that the foot-dragging on this project had gone too far and that recapture of the remaining funds would be the next step. In light of the latest developments, HUD says it will step up its oversight by sending in a team of forensic analysts to ensure HUD funding was properly spent.

"Chairman Martinez is committed to improve the transparency and integrity of the process in order to better serve its citizens," said Cabrera. "HUD stands with him in this commitment."

HUD's Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) manages and administers a range of programs, including the two largest federal rental assistance programs -- public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher Program, formerly known as Section 8. Combined, the programs serve more than 3.2 million low-income families in the U.S.

PIH monitors the operations of the nation's approximately 3,400 public housing authorities and manages the Office of Native American Programs, which is responsible for the implementation and administration of all HUD programs specific to Native American housing and economic development.

More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and www.espanol.hud.gov.

© 2006 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
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