Chicago Housing Authority: A Year Without Permanent Leadership
The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), responsible for over 65,000 households and a billion-dollar budget, has now gone a full year without a permanent CEO. This leadership void comes amidst growing frustration from residents over dire living conditions and a series of internal challenges, leaving the agency’s future uncertain.
The Leadership Vacuum at CHA
Former CEO Tracey Scott resigned in November 2024. A national search promised a new leader by summer 2025, but the position remains vacant. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s preferred candidate, retired Ald. Walter Burnett, is now unlikely to be appointed due to conflict-of-interest concerns regarding his past as an alderman and landlord to voucher holders, which created a clash with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The agency has also seen eight other high-ranking officials depart or be fired in the past year, with many positions now filled by interim leaders. Jim Cunningham, former head of HUD’s Midwest region, stated the CHA is “floundering,” warning that “treading water in troubled seas” can lead to missed opportunities.
CHA’s “Year of Renewal” Initiatives
Despite the leadership uncertainty, CHA Board Chair and temporary Operating Chairman Matthew Brewer asserts the agency is moving forward. Early in the year, the CHA launched a “year of renewal” with initiatives aimed at improving transparency and resident engagement, including a resident survey and the creation of new divisions for environmental concerns (like lead paint) and internal audits. Property and asset management departments were also reorganized.
Brewer expects a permanent CEO to be appointed by the end of the year, acknowledging that “treading water means moving backwards.” However, the board cannot consider Walter Burnett until HUD-approved conflict waivers are secured, a process complicated by a government shutdown.
Residents’ Voices: Unmet Needs and Lingering Frustrations
Dearborn Homes: Security and Failing Infrastructure
Residents at Dearborn Homes, like Etta Davis, describe a community where “everything is on hold.” They’ve demanded increased security for years due to shootings and unauthorized individuals, but security personnel have been absent from buildings. The property’s occupancy rate has dropped from 95.1% to 88.7% in a year, with many older residents leaving due to chronically broken elevators.
William Rowland, a wheelchair user, moved out of Dearborn because unreliable elevators often left him unable to attend appointments. Lillian Ocasio, an 11-year resident and stroke survivor, has been waiting three years for a transfer and recounts being trapped for weeks due to elevator failures, making her feel “like a prisoner.” The CHA plans to add a second elevator to each building by 2027, an estimated $40 million project.
Henry Horner Homes: “Lip Service” and Management Issues
Willie Wright, a long-time resident and member of the Horner Residents’ Committee (formed from a 1995 consent decree), feels the CHA offers “a lot of lip service.” Her property recently underwent an emergency management change from Hispanic Housing Development Corp. to Manage Chicago after years of complaints and failed HUD inspections (scoring a dismal 26 out of 100). Wright criticizes the CHA for not consulting residents on the new management, violating the consent decree, stating, “We are screaming at the top of our lungs, and they can’t hear anything we are saying.”
A Complex Landscape of Legal and Operational Hurdles
The CHA faced a significant setback in January when a jury ordered it to pay over $24 million to two residents for lead paint poisoning, a ruling the agency is contesting. This led to a lawsuit against the CHA by a former property manager for breach of contract.
Compounding financial strains, the CHA recently canceled a request for proposals for new property managers for thousands of units, citing President Trump’s proposed budget cuts to HUD and “emerging needs.” Instead, it extended contracts with existing managers. Additionally, the CHA sued HUD over new anti-DEI grant requirements, losing the lawsuit but gaining a 30-day extension to address compliance.
The Path Forward: Resident Hopes and Leadership Expectations
Board Chair Brewer sees a “silver lining” in the current situation, allowing the agency to assess its foundation without the distraction of onboarding a new CEO. However, residents are eager for definitive leadership. Etta Davis hopes for a CEO who is “transparent and approachable,” someone “for the people.” Willie Wright seeks a leader ready to enact real change, urging the CHA to be “in the business of humans,” not just housing.
| Aspect | CHA’s Perspective (Brewer) | Resident Experience (Davis, Ocasio, Wright) |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership | Expects permanent CEO by year-end; “treading water” is “moving backwards.” | “Everything is on hold”; frustration with delay. |
| Engagement | Proactive, improved engagement; resident survey. | “A lot of lip service”; “screaming at the top of our lungs.” |
| Property Needs | Allocating funds for security (2026); plans for new elevators. | No security for years; elevators broken, feeling “like a prisoner.” |
| Management | Working to find managers with “strong track record.” | Emergency management change, lack of consultation, failed inspections. |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is the CHA CEO position still vacant after a year?
The previous CEO resigned in November 2024. A national search planned for summer 2025 was delayed due to a clash between Mayor Johnson’s preferred candidate, Walter Burnett, and HUD over conflict-of-interest concerns, further complicated by a government shutdown. - What are the main issues residents are facing?
Residents report severe frustration over inadequate security, chronically broken elevators impacting accessibility for older adults and those with disabilities, and a lack of proper consultation regarding changes in property management, leading to feelings of neglect and being “like a prisoner.” - What is the CHA’s “Year of Renewal”?
Launched in February, this initiative aims to address “past challenges” by improving transparency and resident engagement. It includes a resident survey, a new environmental concerns division (focusing on lead paint), and a new internal audit department. - Who is Walter Burnett and why is his appointment stalled?
Walter Burnett is a retired alderman, Mayor Johnson’s preferred candidate for CEO. His appointment is stalled because HUD needs to approve conflict waivers due to his 30-year record as an alderman and his family’s history of owning properties rented to housing voucher holders, which presents potential conflicts of interest. - What recent legal and financial challenges has the CHA faced?
The CHA was ordered to pay over $24 million in a lead paint poisoning lawsuit and is contesting the ruling. It also canceled a request for new property managers due to federal funding uncertainties and unsuccessfully sued HUD over anti-DEI grant requirements.
For the residents of Chicago’s public housing, the path forward for the CHA requires not just a new leader, but one committed to genuine change and a proactive approach that prioritizes their safety, well-being, and active participation in decisions affecting their homes and lives.
Chicago Housing Authority Leadership Void One Year
