Federal government orders Houston housing officials to fix city’s affordable housing program

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The federal government has ordered Houston housing officials to explain how they plan to fix the city’s affordable housing program.

The agency has come under fire for years, with both federal and local authorities accusing it of inefficient leadership and money mismanagement.

The Houston Housing Authority changed its name last week to Housing Alliance HTX, but the name won’t make the agency’s controversies go away.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development, the agency confirms, is now asking for detailed plans for improvement.

In 2024, the CEO resigned after he was put on leave during an investigation into contracts, financials, and even his own vacation time.

ABC13 pulled up multiple previous HUD audits blasting city housing officials for being unable to show how contracts were awarded and tenants were placed.

The audits also showed concerns over the agency’s paperwork. saying it couldn’t be sure it was paying the right amount to those who qualified.

The agency now has a new CEO and financial team, but officials say HUD is demanding proof it’s now stable and financially responsible, specifically citing the latest audit as a concern.

“The people they are housing are the most vulnerable population,” Atkinson said. “They don’t have choices. If there is a voucher available, they go where they are told to do.”

HUD is closed for now as part of the partial government shutdown, so ABC13 can’t get information from the federal side.

But, city leaders said they will comply with any federal requests.

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