Turner seeks update on Dayton’s mismanagement of HUD funding for affordable housing

U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) sought information on Monday about how Dayton, Ohio, city officials forfeited nearly $500,000 in federal grants administered through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME).

City officials failed to meet a two-year statutory deadline to provide a signed and executed agreement outlining how $476,624 in federal HOME funds would be used, Turner wrote in a letter to Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley.

“As a former mayor of the city of Dayton, I am well aware of the housing issues facing the community, roughly 35 percent of which is in poverty,” Turner said. “It appears that the city has lost nearly half a million dollars that was granted to help Daytonians in need get affordable housing.”

“Additionally, Dayton has nearly $4 million in federal funds that have been granted for the purpose of providing affordable housing, but has not made any plans for that critical money to be used to better our community. This is concerning and needs to be addressed,” he added.

The people of Dayton deserve affordable housing, Turner added, and the federal government has provided opportunities to improve living conditions in the city. According to HUD, the HOME program is the largest federal block grant to state and local governments designed to create affordable housing for low-income households.

“Unfortunately, HUD has determined that this is not an isolated incident and there are multiple errors regarding Dayton’s mismanagement of HOME funds,” the letter states. “Specifically, HUD officials have many concerns that the city is failing to spend available HUD funds, allocate funds to new projects, and provide the necessary timely and accurate reporting that is required.”

Turner requested that Whaley provide an update on how the city is addressing the mismanagement issues.