MILWAUKEE — The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) has started to negotiate with a third-party company to take over its Section 8 Housing Voucher Program.

It’s a decision that’s been two years in the making after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) told HACM it required the program to be outsourced because of mismanagement.

However, the decision to draft a contract with CVR Associates — a for-profit company based out of Florida — to run its voucher program is causing controversy.

What You Need To Know

  • HACM has started negotiations with CVR Associates to take over its Section 8 Housing Voucher Program

  • It pointed to CVR Associates' 30 years of experience in working with Section 8 voucher programs as one of the main reasons it's choosing the company

  • Common Ground members showed up to voice their displeasure, saying that since the outsourced company isn't local, it won't have the best interests of locals at heart

  • The HACM Board of Commissioners will hold another special meeting once negotiations with CVR Associates are complete to finalize the contract

Dozens of people with the group Common Ground Wisconsin showed up to the HACM Board of Commissioners Special Meeting on Friday to voice their displeasure with the move.

Common Ground is the grassroots organization that’s been working with Housing Authority residents for the past two years to address various concerns about living conditions

Section 8 tenant and Common Ground member Betty Newton said she is still skeptical about the decision to let the Board of Commissioners choose the outsourced company for the program.

“I’ve come to three meetings and not one time have I had the four chairs (Board of Commissioners) sitting there, so if they’re not sitting there to me, it’s not as important to them,” said Newton.

HACM pointed to CVR Associates’ 30 years of experience in working with Section 8 voucher programs as one of the main reasons it chose the company. The company has also assisted other cities in similar situations, including Chicago, Buffalo and New York State Homes and Community Renewal.

Still, commissioners had questions. That’s why the organization has said it is only starting with negotiations with CVR Associates before awarding a contract.

HACM Secretary-Executive Director Willie Hines Jr. said he is okay with waiting to finalize a deal and believes it is still the best choice.

“An organization and an agency that can help HACM get to that high-performance standard,” said Hines. “That will be a tremendous benefit to the city that will be a tremendous benefit to our residents. It will be a tremendous benefit to this chapter and our story to move towards high performance standards.”

Following the vote, Common Ground went to Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s office to send a letter expressing disappointment in the decision.

When no senior member was there, they decided to leave a voicemail as well.

“We are disappointed to hear that neither you or any senior staff or close to senior staff are available to take our request,” said Common Ground Associate Organizer Kevin Solomon in the voicemail. “We ask that you immediately contact us and in particular that you stop this action. Thank you.”

Newton said she still has concerns about having CVR Associates run the voucher program.

“The service that we get right now is not great, but to have somebody out of state doing it bothers me because I would rather have somebody here hands on,” said Newton.

The HACM Board of Commissioners will hold another special meeting once negotiations with CVR Associates are complete to finalize the contract.

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