February 9, 2010
- Pasco, Washington
Richland Housing Authority Cuts Staff and Considersing Selling Homes
By Molly Kelleher
RICHLAND -- The cuts keep coming for the Richland Housing Authority. The RHA is now down to just one staff member after the feds pulled funding.
"We used to have all the offices filled. Every one of the them," said Peggy Brown, the lone staffer. RHA went from seven staffers a month ago, to just one person. “You just do the best you can and put out the fires for tenants. Shingles coming down or a broke refrigerator and we call maintence. We are just doing the best we can,” Brown said. She's making the best out of a bad situation. Last month, the feds pulled all Section 8 funding. This after the housing authority came under fire for audits that found money was missing. The Kennewick Housing Authority heads up the Columbia Apartments and Section 8 vouchers. No more federal dollars means a big blow to the budget and that's how we got here. But as trimmed back as they are right now, more could be on the way. The RHA board is now considering selling four of the homes they own and moving out of this office to rent out the space. It would relocate to a smaller space next door. Here's what left: 14 low income and for lease homes in Richland 10 rural development homes in Benton City 28 units for farm workers 26 for senior tax credit recipients All are filled but one spot. That unit is undergoing maintenance and there's already a long waiting list. Tuesday night, the board will talk about their real estate options. And one more change, office hours are about to be chopped. |
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