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Housing authority reports operations metrics and recurring mold remediation; commissioners press for root-cause review
Summary
Executive Director Ms. Ricketts told the board the housing authority is maintaining operations while pursuing HUD compliance, with 173 public-housing occupants, 215 vouchers (87.7% utilization) and capital work underway. Commissioners pressed staff about recurring mold, testing, and mitigation; staff said licensed contractors test suspected mold and remediation proceeds when results confirm mold.
The Santa Fe County Housing Authority presented April operational and program data on May 26 while commissioners pressed staff for a plan to address recurring mold in several public-housing units.
Executive Director Ms. Ricketts told the board the housing authority had 173 public-housing occupants and 215 housing-choice vouchers during the reporting period, with an overall utilization rate of 87.7 percent. Staff reported 21 inspections and 23 annual re‑certifications in the period and said capital and system improvements remain priorities as the authority prepares parts of its FY27 budget.
Ms. Ricketts detailed capital allocations and remediation work. She said about $83,000 had been spent to date on mold remediation projects and that approximately $30,000 was allocated for electrical upgrades at the Santa Cruz site while roughly $27,000 was budgeted for mold remediation at Camino de Hakobo. Staff also described procurement, IT automation and planned improvements to tenant communications and online payment systems.
Commissioners sought clarification about staffing and HUD programs. On the ROSS (Resident Opportunity and Self‑Sufficiency) program, staff said the authority was waiting on HUD approval; FSS (Family Self‑Sufficiency) had a recent contract renewal and a designated coordinator. "We're working closely with HUD to ensure we're in compliance in every area," Ms. Ricketts said.
The meeting turned to repeated reports of mold in units. Commissioners asked whether the authority had conducted root‑cause investigations—roof leaks, plumbing, or ventilation failures—and whether tests distinguished mold species. Adriana, who presented the operations narrative, said the authority tests suspected mold cases with licensed contractors and proceeds with remediation when test results confirm mold. "Every single time that we get a work order regarding mold, we do run testings," she said. "When we do get the test results that say that it is mold, that's when we move forward."
Commissioners urged a deeper review to identify and address systemic causes rather than repeatedly repairing individual units. One commissioner said poor ventilation and repeated mold instances raise public‑health concerns and asked staff to examine building systems, including ventilation, roofing and plumbing, to reduce future occurrences.
Why it matters: Recurrent mold remediation has health, cost and operational consequences for public-housing programs. The board’s questions reflect concern about long‑term capital planning and whether the authority’s maintenance and capital strategies are addressing root causes.
Next steps: Staff said they will continue remediation on confirmed cases, monitor HUD program approvals, proceed with recruitment for maintenance and inspector positions, and recommended the board consider a targeted root‑cause review of building systems to reduce repeat mold occurrences.
