The Lisbon Reporter

WELCOME TO THE LISBON REPORTER. In an effort to keep our community informed of what is going on at local and Federal levels of government, we decided to create this on-line newspaper. It is our hope that this on-line newspaper will help you stay informed so that you can get involved and take action for the benefit of our ENTIRE community. Thank you for visiting and please check back frequently for information about what is happening in LISBON/LISBON FALLS, MAINE USA

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Weekly Update from TheMaineWire.com - May 12, 2012

Federal Inspector General report shows 91% of units inspected by MaineHousing failed to meet quality standards

posted 5/8/2012

“Several different inspectors from both the Authority and Avesta” passed 30 units that failed to meet HUD quality standards

A federal report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) shows that the MaineHousing Authority has regularly inspected, and passed, housing units that don’t meet HUD’s quality standards.

MaineHousing, despite blaming recent inspection failures on third-party providers, was found to have directly inspected, and passed, 10 out of 11 units that “did not comply with HUD’s housing quality standards,” according to the report.

A story about sub-standard units in Norway prompted the firing of a Section 8 administrator Avesta Housing “rogue inspector” and led to the sudden termination of Avesta’s contracts administering Section 8 housing.

MaineHousing and then director Dale McCormick placed the blame for inspection failures solely on Avesta and “rogue inspector” Kay Hawkins and crafted an internal audit to support those claims. McCormick then made the decision, without board input, to bring all Section 8 administration and inspection in-house.