The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) Board of Commissioners met on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. A discrepancy exists in the source materials regarding the meeting time: the agenda and officially approved minutes record the meeting beginning at 4:00 PM, while the summary instruction metadata specifies 2026-08-19T10:15:00+00:00. The meeting featured a public listening session, approval of a $2.9 million HUD repayment agreement, a discussion on a board performance survey, and detailed reports from staff and consultants on the agency's recovery plan, operations, and public safety.
Four members of the public provided testimony during the general listening session, with each speaker limited to two minutes.
John Larsen, HACM Chief Financial Officer, presented a resolution to approve a repayment agreement with HUD regarding $2.9 million in unsupported/disallowed housing assistance payments discovered during a 2023 review. The agreement requires repayment over 29 years with quarterly payments of $25,000, with no interest charged. Commissioners expressed strong support for the agreement and commended Mr. Larsen. The resolution was unanimously adopted (7-0).
Chair Hayslett distributed the first draft of a board survey designed to evaluate the Board's effectiveness during the recovery phase. The survey aims to identify strengths and gaps in communication, oversight, training, and accountability. Commissioners were asked to provide revisions to staff by Friday, August 28, 2026. The goal is to finalize the survey and complete it by fall 2026. Commissioner Snyder requested the survey be structured to help improve governance and track the resolution of public concerns.
Housing Choice Voucher Program (CVR Associates): Tracy Sheffield reported on the successful "Save My Spot" email campaign, which reached tens of thousands of applicants. Since emerging from shortfall, CVR has selected 800 families from the waiting list for eligibility review and has issued over 50 vouchers, with a goal of 50 new vouchers for August 2026 (25 issued to date). The recertification backlog is down to 500 cases. A clear discrepancy was found in the source material: the meeting transcript records 1,359 inspections were completed in July 2026, while the official meeting minutes record 13,159 inspections for the month. The PIC reporting rate is 98%. Two additional leasing staff have been hired. Draft language to amend the Administrative Plan for emergency housing voucher conversion has been submitted.
Executive Director Report: Harold Ince provided an executive summary outlining changes to the Recovery Plan, covering maintenance reorganization, contractor support, hiring initiatives, rent collections, and financial restructuring. Staff-led preparatory site reviews for REAC/NSPIRE inspections are being re-established as staffing improves. He emphasized that restoring staffing levels and streamlining core processes are critical to the path forward.
Real Estate Operations (COO Zena Farah): Public housing occupancy is slightly below 96%, with 107 vacant units (57 ready to rent, 27 applicants assigned). The public housing rent collection rate improved to 94% in July, up from a refined average of 90% for January through May 2026. Rent collections in the LLC portfolio declined, with property managers directed to adopt a more aggressive collection or eviction approach. Maintenance inventory management is shifting to site levels, with a goal of a centralized warehouse system.
Consultant and Capital Funding: Mr. Ince announced HACM selected AMA as the consultant to assist in meeting the December 31, 2026, deadline for the Sustainability Plan; the AMA team is conducting initial interviews. He also announced HACM received $27 million in public housing Capital Fund Program shortfall funding, to be distributed over four years.
Financial Sustainability (CFO John Larsen): Travaux finance staff have been relocated to the 809 Broadway building to centralize operations. Finance policies and procedures are being reviewed and updated. Commissioner Snyder requested that fiscal policies be reviewed by a finance committee structure before reaching the full board. Commissioner Moore questioned the timing of establishing a committee versus building the finance team's capacity. Mr. Larsen clarified that policies will be high-level board documents requiring approval, distinct from internal procedures. A cost allocation plan is anticipated by December 31, 2026.
Public Safety (Chief Marlon Davis): Calls for service totaled 643 (a 5% increase), while proactive officer-initiated activity increased by 6% and now constitutes 60% of all activity. Enhanced reporting categories and dispatch operations were added to the report. Community partnerships included Narcan training, a Westlawn Gardens pop-up event, and National Night Out. Merrill Park was identified as the most active development, where a trespassing pilot plan was implemented.
Good afternoon, everyone. Can you hear me okay? All right, wonderful. This is a regularly scheduled meeting of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee taking place at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19th, 2026. Can we get a roll call, Patty? Commissioner Paz Classen. Here. Commissioner Burrell. Present. Commissioner Snyder. Here. Chair Hazlet. Here. Vice Chair Gotzler. Present. Commissioner Nelson. Present. Commissioner Moore. Present. Thank you. All right. Would a commissioner like to move approval of all items within the consent agenda. So moved. Second. Thank you. Can we get a roll call? Commissioner Paz Classan. Aye. Commissioner Burrell. Aye. Commissioner Snyder. Aye. Chair Hazlet. Aye. Vice Chair Gotzler. Aye. Commissioner Nelson. Aye. Commissioner Moore. Aye. Under B1 reports and discussion items. Item number one is a general public listening session. This listening session is agenda item number B1, part of the 4 p.m. Wednesday, August 19th, 2026 meeting of the Hackham Board of Commissioners at City Hall Room 301B. The purpose of the session is to give interested persons a reasonable opportunity to present their views to Hackham's Board of Commissioners. Each speaker will have two minutes to speak. This listening session does not have a specific topic. Persons who wish to speak, if they have not already done so, should sign up at the sign-in sheet located at the side table on your right. For those who have prepared written comments, those comments will be shared with the board.