The Durham News reports on questions about the administration of Durham’s homeless program. I encourage you to read the entire story since I suspect this story is not going away.
The new “Opening Doors” approach transferred oversight of Durham’s 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness from a private nonprofit to local government.
Employee Lanea Foster was to move into a position created for her in the Community Development department.
Instead, Foster is working from home as an independent contractor. Her three-month contract pays her $5,000 a month plus up to $1,000 a month for expenses. An invoice dated June 15 totals $1,012.83, including $500 for office space rental and charges for telephone service, office supplies and computer purchase.
“What’s going on here?” said City Councilman Eugene Brown. “This appears to be a very unusual arrangement.
“I do not understand $1,000 a month expenses,’ Brown said. “Nor do I understand why she is charging $500 a month for office space and [for] telephone when that was available in the office of Community Development.”
