Public housing residents press Miami-Dade housing committee on evictions, mold and management as panel approves HOME-ARP funds

Miami-Dade County housing committee members heard more than a dozen public comments Tuesday from residents who said unsafe conditions, alleged retaliation and poor property management are persistent problems in public housing, then unanimously approved a resolution to accept additional HOME-American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The most immediate formal action came on agenda item 1G1, a resolution retroactively approving the county mayor or the mayor’s designee to apply for and accept additional HOME-ARP funds from HUD in the amount of $26,578; the committee voted to approve the resolution unanimously. Commissioners who were recorded on the roll call as voting in favor were Commissioner Eileen Higgins, Vice Chair Minh McGee, Commissioner Regalado, Vice Chairman Gonzales and Chairwoman Bastien.

Why it matters: Residents told the committee the new federal and local funding being sought should be carefully audited and spent on repairs, operations and supports for current residents rather than on administrative costs or projects that do not directly benefit tenants. Several speakers explicitly urged HUD oversight and an audit of how previous federal housing funds were used.

Residents’ testimony and requests

Speakers who identified themselves as residents of Liberty Square, Guernsey Site 291, Model City and other public housing sites described similar problems: eviction notices or the threat of eviction, repeated moves, mold and leaking roofs, inadequate security lighting, trash and animal hazards on steps and building entrances, alleged harassment by site managers and concerns that tenant councils and resident advisory boards are not independent. Several…