Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10) followed up with a letter to Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley asking for “a detailed plan on actions [the City of Dayton is] taking to address the mismanagement of HOME funds,” including the loss of nearly half a million dollars and almost $4 million that Dayton has not yet provided the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with the signed and executed agreements required in order for the city to keep the federal funding.

Congressman Turner wrote:

“Dear Mayor Whaley,

My last letter was sent to you based upon my meeting with representatives from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) relating to their specific concerns about the City of Dayton’s mismanagement of HOME funds. The City of Dayton has been incorrectly assuming that preservation of HOME funds is based upon commitments. It is not. It is based upon the city providing HUD with signed and executed agreements within the two-year statutory deadline. That is why I am writing to you; the City of Dayton continues to fall in non-compliance.

City Officials are reporting that the $3.96 million dollars in uncommitted HOME Investment Partnership Program funds have all been committed. Do all of those commitments currently have signed and executed agreements? If so, please provide a copy of each agreement to my office. The City of Dayton’s failure to meet a two-year statutory deadline to provide HUD a signed and executed agreement caused the forfeiture of $476,624 in federal HOME funds. If the City of Dayton is unable to provide HUD with a signed and executed agreement within the two-year statutory deadline, they are at risk of losing the remaining $3.96 million in HOME funds.  

Furthermore, my first letter addressed the mismanagement and pattern of misidentifying HOME projects in HUD’s Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS), which complicates project tracking and accurate reporting. When I met with representatives from HUD, they informed me that the mismanagement and failure to complete reporting requirements by city officials was not a one-time issue, but in fact an ongoing problem.

I am writing to make clear that I am requesting that the City of Dayton provide a detailed plan on actions they are taking to address the mismanagement of HOME funds. These funds are too valuable to waste. Since HUD has raised its concerns with my office, I must ensure that the City of Dayton is taking accurate steps to protect all HOME funds.”

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