I’ll go out on a limb and change that to billions, if you count the botched projects throughout the agency’s existence. Today’s N&R runs the Washington Post investigation:
• HUD has known about the problems for years but still imposes few requirements on local housing agencies and relies on a data system that makes it difficult to determine which developments are stalled.
• Even when HUD learns of a botched deal, federal law does not give the agency the authority to demand repayment. HUD can ask local authorities to voluntarily repay, but the agency was unable to say how much money has been returned.
Remember this the next time you see HUD money flowing through local government.
