After enduring criticism from community activists and residents over the state of public housing, Willie Hines, director of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, has announced he will be stepping down from his role as of Jan. 1, 2025. FOX6 News also obtained details on Hines' retirement earnings, which include an estimated $11,000 monthly pension.

During Hines' tenure, Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee faced numerous complaints, among them, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's directive for the agency to relinquish control of its Section 8 voucher program to an external vendor. Hines, a former alderman and council president, began his association with Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee in 2015 and has led the organization since 2022, now preparing to exit with a $75,000 lump sum from a past lawsuit and a substantial pension, despite his $239,000 final average salary coming off a backdrop where Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee properties were fraught with unsafe and unhealthy living conditions, as per FOX6 News.

Kelly Barnes, a resident of an Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee property, expressed hope for a better future, telling FOX6 News, "Hopefully we can get somebody in there who is going to see us as people and make sure that we are safe and feel safe going into our homes and also taking care of the trash, and the rodent problem."

Notwithstanding the public pressure, Hines maintains that the decision to retire was premeditated and unrelated to the criticism leveled at him or Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, stating in a WISN interview, " I planned my retirement. So, I planned it, and I met with them (Milwaukee Employee's Retirement System). I said, 'Do I retire at 60, 62 or 65?' So, I'm just thankful to God that I had the opportunity to retire at 60, and that's what I'm doing." Despite expressing a commitment to the city, Hines also signaled intentions to seek employment elsewhere after his retirement.

However, the decision has not quelled the disdain some residents hold due to the conditions experienced under Hines' leadership, with resident Betty Newton articulating to TMJ4, "Rats, and roaches, and bed bugs on a daily basis," as part of their daily reality, understandably Hines' retirement, while a sign of change, also highlights the disconnect between his pension package and the lived experiences of many Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee residents, who see such financial security as a distant dream. The search for Hines' replacement will be led by the housing authority's board as the organization looks towards a shifting future landscape post-Hines era.