Sexual harrassment problems at HAWS:

The Housing Authority of Winston-Salem plans to request a federal investigation of the sexual-harassment allegations against a landlord made by women who rented homes from him through a federal-subsidy program, HAWS officials said.

The lawsuit filed Oct. 25 named Robbie Martin Watson of Lexington, who owns rental homes in Winston-Salem, as a defendant. According to the suit, Watson made unwanted sexual advances toward Cicely Johnson, Nadean McMahan, Annie Searcy and Michelle Werts. The women are 30 to 45.

But HAWS interim executive director Karen Purcell puts things in perspective:

“The nature of this program doesn’t require anyone to live anywhere. I understand there may be some financial difficulties to moving, but there are options. Section 8 participants know … that they are free to move.”