Following the results of a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) audit revealing 75 compliance violations, Congressman Jeff Van Drew (R, NJ-02) is asking HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge to initiate a federal takeover of the troubled Atlantic City Housing Authority.
“Because of the total lack of leadership by the Atlantic City Housing Authority and its complete inability to do its job, families in the Authority’s communities have been left with no heat and no hot water as we approach the height of winter, which will have significant impacts on the health of its residents. This is unacceptable and deeply disturbing that Atlantic City bureaucrats have faced no accountability and no consequences for the terrible conditions residents are faced with,” said Van Drew in a statement issued Monday. “We gave the Authority more than enough time to remedy its failures, but it is clear that it does not possess the ability, nor competency, to get the job done. Therefore, the federal government must immediately take over the Authority so residents can have safe and livable conditions.
“Mothers, fathers, children, grandchildren – they do not care about bureaucracy, but they do care about having heat and hot water in their homes during New Jersey winters. Residents cannot wait another six to twelve months for a remedy. Residents needed action from the Authority yesterday,” added Van Drew. “The Authority failed them, and as such, I now urgently request HUD to come in and take over as soon as possible. Lives depend on it.”
Van Drew first called for a HUD audit approximately one year ago. The cited violations run the gamut from procurement and inventory issues to accountability problems.
HUD gave the Authority a score of 45 out of 100 which, according to the agency, translates to “troubled.”
