CG and Tenants United Statement on HACM Financial Mismanagement: “We smelled smoke; here’s the fire”
After years, thanks to investigation by the new HACM administration, we finally know the extent of Willie Hines and Fernando Aniban’s financial mismanagement. According to internal emails obtained by TMJ4, “In order to make payroll since 2019, cash was removed from the Section 8 program to cover agency overhead salaries and related benefits.” This totaled $2.8 million. Hines and Aniban hid this from HUD, causing a loss of confidence and “in turn [HUD] forced HACM to outsource the program.”
Now, “the agency is 45 days back on its bills to contractors,” does “not have enough cash to cover” payroll, and “will be bankrupt in 45 days.”
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It is egregious that Hines and Aniban scammed poor people and Milwaukee generally, leaving on golden parachutes. They should be held accountable. We need to understand the extent to which their financial mismanagement cost residents and would-be residents.
It is disheartening that, for two years, Mayor Johnson prioritized his friend Willie Hines over 15,000 poor people, ignoring the serious concerns that HUD, residents, and Common Ground raised again and again.
However, we commend the new HACM administration and Board for working diligently to get to the bottom of this, being transparent, and trying to proactively salvage this sinking ship. We will work with new leadership to make things right.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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