Greensburg, IN—Monday evening, Milissa Ashley, Executive Director of the Greensburg Housing Authority, along with Board Members made a second request for additional funding by the city to pay the debt to the Department of Housing and Urban Development embezzled over 15 years ago. Ashley informed the Council, since the last council meeting, she as well as Susan Beard have been able to raise $14,330.00 in letters of intent, checks, and cash from various sources including the County and private donors.
Council President Jamie Cain stated that in conversations with both Donna Taylor of Human Services Inc. and Jennifer Charles from HUD that he learned that there are many local housing authorities being closed and no assurance can be given that Greensburg will remain open even if the debt is repaid. Cain continued by saying that he was informed that if the local housing authority closed, it can voluntarily reallocate their vouchers to the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, and then reallocate the vouchers to Human Services Inc. in Decatur County. Human Services Inc. would then be responsible for the city in addition to its current mission in other areas of the county. Ashley stated that this information was totally false.
In a letter from Bruce Nzerem, Director of HUD in Indianapolis, he states that “ the program is not transferring nor has there been any decision to voluntarily transfer the program at this time as HUD is looking at being able to stay in the community and enter into a repayment plan.”
The newest Councilmen, Rick Emsweller, made a motion to pay, not to exceed $12,949.00, over 3 years. The motion failed due to the lack of a second. Mr. Cain made a motion not to provide funding with Kevin Fleetwood seconding the motion. The motion passed 4-1.
