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Committee flags voucher responsiveness and H Street service center closure
Summary
Committee members pressed nominees about voucher-holder complaints, unclear local versus federal voucher rules, and a March 13 closure of the Housing Choice Voucher Program customer service center for structural and fire-safety issues; nominees said staff were dispersed and the agency posted notices online.
Committee members raised persistent resident complaints about slow or absent responses from voucher specialists and asked nominees how the board will improve communication and customer service.
Chair Robert White told the committee that "the Housing Choice Voucher Program customer service center at 702 8th Street was closed on March 13 due to structural concerns," and asked whether the board expects immediate notification for such events and whether there was continuity of service. Raymond Skinner said staff were dispersed to other centers and that the closure was communicated on the agency website; candidates said the deputy director had apologized to residents and would improve prior notification.
Denise Blackson cited specific efforts she has used to address resident service issues (monthly "Block-by-Block" and Chat-and-Choose briefings) and said she has worked directly with Anton Shaw, director of the HCVP department, to escalate individual cases. Committee members asked for clearer response-tracking and monitoring of how RFTA packages are processed so residents and landlords receive confirmation and status updates.
The nominees committed to bringing the voucher division to a future resident-services meeting and to follow up with the committee on response-time metrics and complaint handling procedures.
