Feature Story

January 11, 2009

HUD RETURNS MIAMI-DADE HOUSING AGENCY TO LOCAL CONTROL - CITES IMPROVED MANAGEMENT AND COUNTY COOPERATION

From HUD Press Releases:

Department of Housing and Urban Development today returned control of the Miami-Dade Housing Agency (MDHA) to the Miami-Dade County after 15 months in HUD possession. HUD cited accomplishments by the HUD oversight team and the County to complete critical tasks to improve the performance of MDHA.

We are pleased to announce that the Miami-Dade Housing Agency is a more efficient institution than it was a little over a year ago when HUD took possession, said HUD Secretary Steve Preston. Bernardi signed documents acknowledging the return of possession to the County, noting HUD will continue to monitor progress as outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) the County and HUD negotiated last month.

Over the past four months, HUD and the County focused on instituting financial and accounting controls; reorganization of its Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program (Section 8); and jumpstarting the long-stalled redevelopment of the Scott-Carver public housing development. In addition, the County and HUD worked together to outsource MDHAs HCV program for two years; and MDHA has procured the services of a developer to begin the redevelopment of Scott-Carver.

In the MOU, which was negotiated between HUD and the County and approved by the Board of Commissioners last month, MDHA will accomplish specific tasks and objectives with HUD providing oversight.

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