Willie Hines, the secretary-executive director of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM), is set to retire at the end of this year, as confirmed to Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin by the Office of the Mayor. Hines, who held the position since March 2022 and was previously the president of the Milwaukee Common Council, has been a figure of controversy with his leadership term marked by issues concerning resident safety and housing conditions.
Under Hines' stint, Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee has been the subject of in-depth investigations into allegations of fraud with auditors identifying millions in 'variances' in its bank account, according to Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin, with residents dealing with what has been described as uninhabitable living conditions featuring pest infestations and poor maintenance, concerns that have been echoed by advocates and residents alike. Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, which provides housing to around 15,000 individuals, has faced critical problems such as rent mismanagement and inadequate pest control as outlined by Fox 6 Now.
The resignation according to Kevin Solomon, an Associate Organizer for Common Ground, represents a significant victory for the advocacy group which has been working with tenants for over two years to challenge what they describe as entrenched, powerful interests to improve living conditions. "Today is a momentous day for Milwaukee," Solomon said, "David beat Goliath. Thousands of low-income housing residents and Common Ground banded together for over 2 years to challenge entrenched and powerful interests, and fight for better living conditions. We overcame skepticism, doubt, secrecy, and special interests. And we won," as reported by Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin.
Residents have expressed a range of emotions upon hearing the news of Hines' retirement, with Roye 'Chris' Logan, Resident President of Mitchell Court, stating "Bedbugs number one, vagrants, roaches, mice, prostitution, drugs," detailing the gamut of issues faced under Hines' leadership bringing forth a blend of relief and vindication as reported to WISN; Logan also participated in the Common Ground efforts to spearhead change. Following Hines' departure, Common Ground aims for the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee Board to carry out a national search for a new leader who is capable of remedying the current disarray.
