MILWAUKEE — The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) has been under public scrutiny for more than a year.
In April 2023, Spectrum News 1 first reported on issues plaguing the residents of HACM’s public and affordable housing buildings. Issues brought up ranged from bed bug and cockroach infestations to trespassing, prostitution and assaults. Spectrum News 1 also visited HACM properties for similar complaints in Aug. 2023 and Dec. 2023.
HACM manages more than 4,000 apartments and homes designated for low-income families, seniors and adults with disabilities in the City of Milwaukee. Those properties include College Court, Locust Court, Lapham Park and Mitchell Court. HACM is the city’s second largest landlord behind Berrada Properties, a landlord with its own sordid history.
In March 2024, Spectrum News 1 investigative reporter Megan Carpenter visited College Court on the city’s west side, after hearing that residents fear for their safety almost daily.
“Let’s say, for example, one of my relatives has a birthday party and I’m coming in after dark,” said Charlene Bell, who has lived at College Court for seven years. “It’s dangerous to enter this building.”
Bell referenced a stairwell about 12 feet from the front door of her apartment. She said she often sees a man, who does not live in the building, sleeping on the stairs and doing drugs.
“The office is open, so how are people getting in that don’t live here?” Bell said. “We just really want to be able to feel comfortable and safe in our homes.”
Spectrum News 1 filed an open records request with the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) for all calls for service to College Court from Jan. 1, 2023 through March 1, 2024. There were nearly 500 calls, including domestic abuse, assault, battery, stabbings and theft.
“It’s not safe when you come in at night after hours,” Bell said. “There are always people hanging out outside of our building, waiting for one of the residents to come in so they can have access to the building as well.”
A HACM spokesperson said College Court is equipped with 29 security cameras, including at entrances, exits and in parking lots.
HACM would not disclose how many security guards patrol the property “in order to protect the integrity of those operations.” HACM contracted with a new third-party security company for College Court in March and said security works hours outside of 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. when management is not on site.
Bell said she has only ever seen one security guard and the safety issues persist.
“One guard can’t watch both of these towers,” she said, referring to the two apartment buildings that make up College Court. “That’s why, even with this new company, we’re not totally happy because we want to feel secure.”
HACM’s executive director, Willie Hines, would not do an on-camera interview to discuss security protocols. This is the fourth interview request he has declined from Spectrum News 1 since April 2023.
“We do not feel safe and they’re not doing anything, in my opinion, to make that happen,” Bell said, referring to Hines and HACM leadership.
On behalf of College Court residents, 21 of them signed a letter to Hines in March. The letter made a list of requests, including a new property manager and two security guards on duty.
Residents also sent a letter to Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson on March 15, asking for an in-person meeting so he could see their living conditions. Spectrum News 1 asked Johnson for his response to that letter and also requested an on-camera interview. The Mayor’s spokesperson emailed the following:
“The Mayor stands by his statement in the 2024 State of the City presentation earlier this month:
“The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee is a major provider of homes for residents here. Thousands of people rely on it. The Authority has faced some very real challenges over the past several years navigating the pandemic and managing through very significant budget challenges. I am keeping a close eye on the agency, and staying in touch with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as the Housing Authority addresses the problems. They are headed in the right direction, and I have confidence in the agency’s leadership.
“We will take a pass on any further interviews or comment.”
“Things aren’t getting better,” said Kevin Solomon, an organizer with the grassroots organization Common Ground. “I think you’re reporting demonstrates this — that, even months later, there are still all these problems.”
Common Ground has been working with HACM residents for the past two years. Solomon said he and fellow organizers have spoken with nearly 2,000 residents across two dozen HACM properties. Security concerns are a common theme.
“Every building has these same kinds of troubles,” he said. “They get hundreds of police calls every year and even more calls to internal public safety.”
Spectrum News 1 filed a second open records request for all MPD calls to Locust Court within the same timeframe as College Court. The request returned nearly 300 calls. Reports included domestic violence, people shot, property damage and trespassing. One report details an intentional homicide.
“When that’s consistent across the second-largest landlord in the city, you have to raise questions about if their comprehensive strategy is really comprehensive at all,” Solomon said.
“We’ve had people’s doors get kicked down in here,” Bell said. “I want people to feel safe going to the laundry room, or the mailbox, or the garbage cans because those are all places people have been attacked.”
Spectrum News 1 asked Hines in an email how HACM is responding to these security concerns brought up by residents, further shown in police records. HACM’s spokesperson, Amy Hall, gave the following response:
“Some HACM properties have faced heightened security concerns due to increased crime in surrounding neighborhoods, non-compliance with building safety protocols, and other challenges. When HACM notes significant criminal activity, HACM takes a number of steps.
“First, HACM takes eviction action against residents who violate their lease by bringing drugs, prostitution or other crimes into the building or have guests who do the same.
“Second, HACM requests additional patrols around our properties by the MPD. MPD District Captains have committed to increasing patrols surrounding HACM properties when it has shown to be necessary.
“HACM has provided some MPD Districts with building access cards which allow MPD Officers to easily enter buildings. In addition, HACM’s Public Safety officers have been assigned Saturation Patrols at locations where increased complaints or crimes have been identified.
“Third, as funding allows, HACM increases the security of our properties with additional cameras and by further securing perimeters to prevent outsiders from entering the property. HACM IT and City ITMD are working on secure network connectivity where MPD Fusion Center and MPD Districts will have access to the security surveillance systems for all HACM buildings and offices. HACM Public Safety Officers and Dispatchers also conduct virtual patrols using computer camera clients to remotely view all building and office cameras.
“HACM also implemented physical enhancements to several buildings in response to heightened security concerns in the last three years.
“Fourth, in cases of significant criminal activity, HACM has also augmented our public safety temporarily by hiring contracted security staff when resources allow.
“HACM Public Safety also attends Housing Authority Resident Organization/Council meetings, as well as MPD Neighborhood Watch meetings when possible. MPD Community Liaison Officers attend HACM Safety/Security meetings and Resident Organization meetings as well. HACM Chief of Public Safety attends a weekly MPD Public Safety Review of Non-Fatal Shootings and Homicides. If a case involves a HACM unit or residents, information is shared and strategies are discussed.
“We are seeing progress from these combined efforts and will continue working in partnership with law enforcement agencies and residents to resolve security concerns.”
Nicole Binns has also been a College Court resident for about seven years. She stressed the concern about dangerous individuals who are also fellow residents.
“It says in our rules no violence, absolutely none,” Binns said. “That’s automatic termination and I haven’t seen that yet.”
She said HACM is not addressing those concerns either.
“How are we getting protected from the people that live here who are messed up too?” Binns said. “The people with mental illnesses, kicking in people’s doors and vandalizing people’s cars and they live here.”
Spectrum News 1 filed an open records request with HACM on March 8 to gauge its internal response to security complaints. We have not received that information.