Boston Housing Authority failed to correct deficiencies identified two years ago 

BOSTON, MA – This morning, Josh Kraft and supporters stood outside the Mildred C. Hailey public housing development in Jamaica Plain to call attention to the deplorable conditions found in many Boston Housing Authority (BHA) sites following a scathing federal audit issued earlier this year. Summary // Full Report

Last month, the Trump Administration announced it would slash the federal rental housing budget by 40 percent – effectively ending the Section 8 housing program which helps at least 8,000 Boston households pay monthly rent.

In February, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released an audit of Biden Administration-era housing inspections detailing how BHA has been spending taxpayer dollars. The audit identified problems with 31 of the 36 homes inspected by the Office of the Inspector General. Nearly four months later, as federal support shrinks, Kraft noted that it appears nothing has changed.

“The Boston Housing Authority serves some of our city’s most vulnerable people – the seniors, the disabled, and many of the same families we served when I was CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Boston,” said Josh. “We are here today because Mayor Wu needs to explain why this happened on her watch and what she is doing to fix it.”

HUD and OIG found the following problems that in most cases still haven’t been addressed over the past 24 months:

• The BHA failed to perform dozens of required inspections.
• Over half of the homes inspected had the same problems they found during their previous inspection.
• Over a third of inspected homes had “life-threatening deficiencies that needed to be corrected within 24 hours.”

At today’s press conference, Josh described numerous BHA living conditions that are unsafe, unhealthy and “undignified” for residents, including broken or missing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, electrical hazards, and blocked exits. He also cited additional examples of housing deficiencies under Wu and BHA leadership including seniors and disabled residents of Ruth Barkley Apartments stuck in hallways, sleeping in wheelchairs, being forced to climb seven flights of stairs, and being relocated to temporary housing in hotels because of broken elevators.

“What we’re seeing here should never be allowed to happen in a city like Boston,” added Josh. “I believe a mayor shows leadership when he or she demonstrates competent city management, and I question whether Mayor Wu has the management skills to properly address these problems.”

Actions Josh Will Take to Address Deficient Public Housing:

• Investing in maintenance to fix unsafe or unlivable housing conditions – not leaning on temporary and expensive accommodations like hotels.
• Directing taxpayer dollars to hiring qualified city staff – not funding a beer garden for a professional soccer team in White Stadium. 
• Taking responsibility to address problems when they arise – not blaming problems past leadership or funding inadequacies.
• Listening to and working closely with disadvantaged communities – not waiting until a problem gets so bad the public has to hear about it on the news.

As Mayor, Josh will do the work to ensure the City of Boston actually CAN make safe affordable housing a human right, and will invest in the dignity of every resident.

[CLICK HERE FOR REMARKS]

###

Media contact:

Eileen O’Connor, eileen@joshforboston.com

617-806-6999