Public commenter raises concerns about Scranton Housing Authority five-year plan and evictions

Rick Little, a resident who spoke during the public comment period, urged more public scrutiny of the Scranton Housing Authority's five-year plan and raised concerns about eviction records and administrative transparency.

Little said he submitted comments and letters to the Scranton Housing Authority (PHA) and that he believes certain materials were not properly included in the public record. He told the council he was evicted after 14 years in public housing, described difficulties obtaining court records connected to evictions and said the five-year plan materials are confusing and difficult for residents to access. Little cited the role of federal funding cycles for public housing, noting that the PHA's five-year plan is the principal vehicle through which federal funds and local priorities are coordinated.

Little announced that Commissioner Chris Schirmack is convening a public meeting on the topic at the Lackawanna College Auditorium at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 10, to discuss public housing and related concerns. The transcript captures Little's request that government officials and residents discuss these issues publicly and said he hoped the meeting would foster more transparency about contracts, staffing and eviction practices.

The comments were matters of public record but did not prompt council action at the meeting; council members or staff did not provide new documentation in response during the session.