INSIDER
Former Jacksonville Housing Authority Deputy CFO arrested, accused of stealing prepaid cards meant for residents
Read full article: Former Jacksonville Housing Authority Deputy CFO arrested, accused of stealing prepaid cards meant for residentsThe former Deputy Chief Financial Officer of the Jacksonville Housing Authority (JHA) was arrested Wednesday and accused of using prepaid cards that were meant for residents.
Jacksonville Housing Authority looks to former COJ leader after acting CEO resigns
Read full article: Jacksonville Housing Authority looks to former COJ leader after acting CEO resignsThe Jacksonville Housing Authority (JHA) Board of Commissioners will hold an Emergency Meeting in person on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. to discuss “Executive Leadership” matters.
Jacksonville Housing Authority awarded $2.3M to help families in the workforce
Read full article: Jacksonville Housing Authority awarded $2.3M to help families in the workforceA senior official with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is visiting Jacksonville on Wednesday to join Mayor Donna Deegan and the Jacksonville Housing Authority for a funding announcement.
‘Corporate invasion’: Firms flock to Florida, buy up apartments because of weak tenant-protection laws, study finds
Read full article: ‘Corporate invasion’: Firms flock to Florida, buy up apartments because of weak tenant-protection laws, study findsFlorida is one of the most attractive states for investors because of weak tenant-protection laws, a recent study found.
‘I am being pushed out’: Jacksonville Housing Authority CEO to resign after report finds agency misused funds
Read full article: ‘I am being pushed out’: Jacksonville Housing Authority CEO to resign after report finds agency misused fundsJacksonville Housing Authority CEO Dwayne Alexander on Monday submitted his resignation letter more than a month after he came under fire following the release of a city investigation into the agency.
Income-based housing wait list remains long in Jacksonville as supply lags
Read full article: Income-based housing wait list remains long in Jacksonville as supply lagsAs of last week, there were 162,991 applications on waiting lists for low income and affordable housing in Jacksonville, according to the Jacksonville Housing Authority. Families can spend years on those lists, waiting for relief.
Jacksonville Housing Authority CEO pushes back after city report finds agency wasted federal funds
Read full article: Jacksonville Housing Authority CEO pushes back after city report finds agency wasted federal fundsThe CEO of the Jacksonville Housing Authority (JHA) said there’s a lot more to the city investigation released on Tuesday that revealed the agency wasted more than a million dollars of federal funds.
City investigation found JHA gave tenants $2M to spend on utilities but only 13% was spent on that
Read full article: City investigation found JHA gave tenants $2M to spend on utilities but only 13% was spent on thatNew findings from an anticipated Jacksonville Inspector General Report show wasteful expenditure of government funds.
‘There’s a crisis’: Jacksonville Housing Authority applicants complain about a lack of communication, transparency
Read full article: ‘There’s a crisis’: Jacksonville Housing Authority applicants complain about a lack of communication, transparencyA single mother waiting for housing assistance calls the lack of affordable housing in Jacksonville a crisis.
JHA board approves $20K bonus, 6-month contract extension for CEO as city investigation looms large
Read full article: JHA board approves $20K bonus, 6-month contract extension for CEO as city investigation looms largeBoard members said they had concerns over the lack of communication and transparency from JHA and one board member questioned Alexander’s judgment in leading the agency.
Jacksonville mother waits for answers after JHA application for public housing accepted 8 months ago
Read full article: Jacksonville mother waits for answers after JHA application for public housing accepted 8 months agoAs the Jacksonville Housing Authority (JHA) is being investigated by the city, more community members are coming forward with concerns about the long wait for help.
Jacksonville Housing Authority CEO says he has no plans to resign as city investigation report awaits
Read full article: Jacksonville Housing Authority CEO says he has no plans to resign as city investigation report awaitsThe CEO of the Jacksonville Housing Authority (JHA) said on Monday he has no plans to resign as he awaits the results of a city investigation that looked into the agency he leads.
Jacksonville Housing Authority to hold emergency meeting on impending city investigation that’s critical of agency
Read full article: Jacksonville Housing Authority to hold emergency meeting on impending city investigation that’s critical of agencyThere are still unanswered questions about a soon-to-be-released city investigation into the Jacksonville Housing Authority (JHA), an agency that oversees public housing in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville Housing Authority being investigated by city; report to be released soon
Read full article: Jacksonville Housing Authority being investigated by city; report to be released soonThe Jacksonville Housing Authority (JHA) is being investigated by the city, three sources confirmed to News4JAX on Thursday.
New owners of troubled Eastside apartment complex bring restored hope for residents after years of safety concerns
Read full article: New owners of troubled Eastside apartment complex bring restored hope for residents after years of safety concernsThere’s new hope for residents at a troubled apartment complex on Jacksonville’s Eastside.
I-TEAM: Fix problems or don’t get paid, city tells landlords of troubled apartments
Read full article: I-TEAM: Fix problems or don’t get paid, city tells landlords of troubled apartmentsFix the problems by Saturday or don’t get paid. That’s the message Jacksonville housing officials have for the landlords of a troubled apartment complex that the News4JAX I-TEAM first exposed last month. City leaders tell the I-TEAM that management at the Cascade Apartments in Grand Park has been told to correct all problems by Saturday otherwise affected residents can withhold their rent.
More than 30,000 people on waitlist for affordable housing in Jacksonville as rental prices soar
Read full article: More than 30,000 people on waitlist for affordable housing in Jacksonville as rental prices soarThe cost of renting a home or apartment has soared in recent years, and the Jacksonville Housing Authority is seeing this need for affordable housing firsthand.
I-TEAM : Rodent sightings prompt code enforcement complaints at Brentwood public housing
Read full article: I-TEAM : Rodent sightings prompt code enforcement complaints at Brentwood public housingAfter a resident reached out about a rodent infestation in her Brentwood Lakes public housing unit, the News4JAX I-TEAM found there has been a recent uptick in complaints about rodents at the apartment complex.
JTA uses retrofitted buses to bring vaccines to Jacksonville senior facility
Read full article: JTA uses retrofitted buses to bring vaccines to Jacksonville senior facilityJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Seniors and people with disabilities in Jacksonville lined up Friday to be vaccinated outside their government high-rise. Two retrofitted city buses acted as mobile vaccination clinics for the residents. But the Jacksonville Housing Authority said its senior housing was not included in the effort. Mia Jones is the CEO of Agape Family Health, a nonprofit health center assisting in running a state vaccination clinic on Jacksonville’s Northside. Jones said after seeing reports she offered to vaccinate hundreds of seniors living on JHA properties.
Vaccination clinics scheduled at 2 Jacksonville Housing Authority senior high-rises
Read full article: Vaccination clinics scheduled at 2 Jacksonville Housing Authority senior high-risesJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Housing Authority officials said Monday that state contractor Agape Family Health will hold vaccination clinics this month at two of its senior high-rises. Agape Family Health CEO Mia Jones has, for weeks, assisted in running the state vaccination site at Edward Waters College. After seeing News4Jax’s stories on JHA’s senior housing properties, she offered to vaccinate 500 of the authority’s residents this week. “I was surprised because I thought that all of the senior housing properties had been taken care of with the corporate pharmacies going out,” Jones said. Otis Bess Jr., 71, is a Vietnam veteran and a resident of JHA senior high-rise Centennial Towers.
Hundreds of Jacksonville seniors still waiting for COVID-19 shots
Read full article: Hundreds of Jacksonville seniors still waiting for COVID-19 shotsJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – More than 2 million seniors in Florida have been inoculated against COVID-19 so far, but as the state begins to lower age requirements, hundreds of seniors are still being missed in low-income housing. The agency said it vaccinated over 9,000 seniors in two weeks and it planned to wrap up the effort on Friday. State vaccine clinics were held at 10 Duval County HUD apartment complexes as a part of the vaccination effort, according to a Division of Emergency Management spokesperson. “A lot of the clients here either don’t have a way to go and then you got others, I think they are just a little leery of the vaccine,” Bess said. AdThe Division of Emergency Management has not answered questions about whether it plans to create vaccine clinics at public housing authorities throughout the state.
Enrollment to begin next week for Housing Choice Voucher Program
Read full article: Enrollment to begin next week for Housing Choice Voucher ProgramJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Housing Authority announced it will be accepting online applications for the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) and the Mainstream Voucher Program beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, Feb. 8. It’s the first time JHA has opened the voucher enrollment program since 2018. AdThe Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) is open to families with gross annual income from all members of the household at or below the Area Medium Income that corresponds to the number of family members. For example, for a family of two, the income limit is $48,000, and for a family of four, the limit if $60,000. The Mainstream Voucher Program is open to people who are disabled and who are between the ages of 18 and 61with incomes at or below the Area Medium Income.
HUD awards $740K to help 100 Jacksonville residents with housing
Read full article: HUD awards $740K to help 100 Jacksonville residents with housingThe U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded the Jacksonville Housing Authority $740,400 through the CARES Act to provide 100 vouchers to help Jacksonville residents avoid losing their homes. The CARES Act allowed HUD to allocate vouchers to public housing agencies like JHA to help them prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus in their communities. The Housing Authority says it plans to apply for more vouchers because of the need that exists in the city. There wasn’t enough housing, there’s not enough affordable housing to go around,” she said. The vouchers will fund residents with safe and sanitary housing for those facing homelessness.
Fired CEO gets vacation pay, pension
Read full article: Fired CEO gets vacation pay, pensionThe longtime CEO of the Jacksonville Housing Authority is set to get 12 weeks of vacation pay after being fired for misconduct. He gets to keep his earned pension. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.
Mayor responds to explosive report on Jacksonville housing chief
Read full article: Mayor responds to explosive report on Jacksonville housing chiefJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A day after a city report was released backing up claims that Jacksonville Housing Authority CEO Fred McKinnies had slept with some of his employees and a tenant, Mayor Lenny Curry spoke out Tuesday, addressing the issue. The report states that McKinnies also paid JHA employees to make repairs at his home and the home of an accuser. "Today, the Jacksonville Housing Authority received the City of Jacksonville Office of Inspector Generals final report of its investigation into allegations of misconduct by JHA President and CEO Fred McKinnies. The city investigation into McKinnies' conduct began in August 2018. Dwayne Alexander, JHA's interim CEO and president, thanked the inspector general's office and the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission for investigating the case.
Investigation results in termination recommendation for Housing CEO
Read full article: Investigation results in termination recommendation for Housing CEOThe mayor wants the CEO of the Jacksonville Housing Authority fired for his admitted liasons with some of his employees. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.
Investigation: Jacksonville housing chief had sex with staffers & tenant
Read full article: Investigation: Jacksonville housing chief had sex with staffers & tenantJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The City of Jacksonville Inspector General's Office has released its report into alleged misconduct by the head of Jacksonville Housing Authority, which substantiated claims that CEO Fred McKinnies slept with some of his employees and a tenant. The report states that McKinnies also paid JHA employees to make repairs at his home and the home of an accuser. "Today, the Jacksonville Housing Authority received the City of Jacksonville Office of Inspector Generals final report of its investigation into allegations of misconduct by JHA President and CEO Fred McKinnies. "These are some of the most vulnerable people that are being served by the Jacksonville Housing Authority and I truly believe...that this should never happen again," Dennis said. Dwayne Alexander, JHA's interim CEO and president, thanked the inspector general's office and the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission for investigating the case.
I-TEAM: 1 taken to hospital after elevator 'failed' at senior community
Read full article: I-TEAM: 1 taken to hospital after elevator 'failed' at senior communityJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - An elevator malfunction at a high-rise senior community in downtown Jacksonville sent one person to a hospital, the News4Jax I-TEAM has learned. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said the elevator at Centennial Towers "failed" June 26 while three tenants were on it. "Just went down ... went to the second floor," said Otis Bess, who lived in Centennial Towers. Thomas Davidson needs an elevator to get down from his 14th-floor apartment at Centennial Towers. According to Davison, the elevators at Centennial Towers break down frequently.