Amid growing tensions and long-standing complaints, the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee Board of Commissioners faced public scrutiny during their first in-person meeting since January. Residents of the public housing system, grappling with issues ranging from pests to security lapses, seized the opportunity to directly address the board on Wednesday afternoon. As reported by WISN, tensions were palpable, with tenants urging the board to "get up and start helping us. Do your job."
Common Ground, a coalition involved in amplifying tenants' struggles, highlighted the dire conditions within Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee units, including rodent and mold infestations. According to a testimony from a public housing tenant during the meeting, extreme measures were used to battle a pest problem: "There was a fellow that poured gasoline on the third or fourth floor because he wanted to get rid of the bed bugs." Meanwhile, technical and accessibility barriers had previously prevented many, particularly elderly and disabled tenants, from participating in past virtual meetings, leaving them feeling further marginalized, as per WISN.
Scrutiny extended to the operations of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee board itself. The board's vice-chair, Brooke VandeBerg, cited the board's desire to meet in-person more often, raising questions about the decision-making process behind meeting arrangements. This sentiment echoed concerns voiced by activist Kevin Solomon and reported by CBS 58, who queried why board administrators wielded such influence over such decisions. The nature of the board's dynamics came under scrutiny as VandeBerg admitted, "That's a good question," when pressed on why the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee lets its administration largely dictate meeting logistics.
During this public hearing, mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, residents did not shy away from sharing their firsthand experiences of the housing conditions. Vivian Jones, a resident leader at the Lapham Park apartments, recounted, "A car stolen right at my doorstep in this building, and security was there. [Security said] 'We're not allowed to get involved.' Why not? What is security good for? What are they doing for us? Nothing," as told to CBS 58. Rebuilding trust was the commitment from Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee leaders, with VandeBerg emphasizing their intent: "We want to rebuild trust in the housing authority," as reported by TMJ4.
As residents continue to live through these challenging conditions, the Milwaukee public housing board faces not just the task of resolving the immediate grievances but also the broader mission of restoring faith in an institution charged with serving some of the city's most vulnerable populations.
