MILWAUKEE — The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) has made several changes to its leadership following a federal report the exposed several issues within its ranks.
Kenneth Barbeau will serve as interim secretary-executive director for HACM starting Jan. 2, 2025, the organization’s Board of Commissioners announced Thursday night.
Barbeau most recently served as HACM’s chief operating officer of program services, overseeing public resident services, like employment and health care, and the Section 8 program. He has been with the organization for several decades, since 1999.
It comes as Willie Hines, the current secretary-executive director, is set to retire at the end of the year. Hines was appointed to the position in March 2022. His leadership term has been fraught with controversy, with several public calls for him to resign amid frequent resident complaints about unsafe, unhealthy and even “uninhabitable” living conditions.
“As commissioners, we are steadfast in our commitment to providing safe, affordable housing and enhancing the quality of life for our residents across the City of Milwaukee,” said Charlotte Hayslett, chair of the HACM Board of Commissioners, in a release. “That includes ensuring a smooth transition of leadership as we search for a new Secretary-Executive Director.”
Barbeau was not the only leadership change announced on Thursday
HACM’s Deputy Director Fernando Aniban has also resigned, leaders shared. His resignation will be effective on Feb. 21, 2025. Aniban had been with the organization since 2009.
His resignation follows a federal report released last week that highlights various issues within the organization, including not having adequate property management, lack of organizational quality control and having $2.5 million unaccounted for.
HACM oversees more than 4,000 affordable housing units for low-income households, elderly residents and disabled adults. It also provides housing assistance via its Housing Choice Voucher Program to another nearly 6,000 households in the city, according to its website.
Tenants in buildings managed by HACM have expressed frustration over living conditions and in August, a group of them filed a class-action lawsuit against the Housing Authority.