Gary Housing Authority back in local hands

Federal officials announced Thursday the Gary Housing Authority has returned to local control following its 2013 takeover by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“The Gary Housing Authority has made significant progress over the past several years,” said new HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge.

“This is a great moment for the people of the city of Gary and for the Gary Housing Authority,” said Mayor Jerome Prince.

GHA units, scattered around the city, are home to about 6,200 residents.

In 2013, HUD took over day-today operations after years of mismanagement, corruption and complaints from residents concerned about bedbugs and other unsanitary conditions.

Former mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson signed the agreement for the takeover, saying the GHA’s problems were beyond the city’s resources.

HUD installed Julian Marsh to run the GHA and he’s led the transformation. In February, deputy director and Gary native Taryl Bonds took over as executive director.

“Under Director Taryl Bonds, we’re looking forward to exceeding our GHA residents’ expectations and providing them with the best possible service,” Prince said in a statement.

For years, the GHA’s public housing program was designated as “troubled,” based on physical conditions of the properties and financial conditions and management.

On Thursday, HUD said the GHA no longer had the troubled rating.

A release stated HUD provided the GHA with $11.9 million in special grants for demolition and rehabilitation and $7.3 million in contractor assistance, along with guidance from 18 different HUD staff members from across the country.

HUD said it helped develop new executive leadership and provided technical expertise to resolve management issues.

Since the takeover, the GHA properties have improved physical conditions and inspection scores, increased occupancy rates, underwent an audit without findings, and demolished more than 400 blighted units at four sites.

In 2019, the GHA purchased the former DuBois Public Library, at 1835 Broadway, for $300,000 and turned it into a community resource center, called the EnVision Center where residents can receive job training and education assistance.

It recently received an $8.6 million U.S. Housing and Urban Development grant to demolish Dorie Miller Homes, Delaney Community East and Gary Manor.

Last year, the GHA demolished 14 vacant buildings in the 500 to 700 block of Broadway to make way for new housing. It’s also purchased former high schools Emerson and Horace Mann and the former Pyle Elementary to make way for new housing and development.

By April 1, HUD said the Gary Housing Authority will have about 1,100 public housing units and about 2,000 Housing Choice Vouchers low-income residents can use for private home or apartment rentals.

The GHA is governed by a board of commissioners appointed by the mayor.