HACM residents demand new leadership

BY ABBEY TAYLOR WISCONSIN

PUBLISHED 8:06 PM ET FEB. 14, 2024

MILWAUKEE — Residents and Common Ground leaders said they want a change of leadership from the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) Board of Commissioners.

HACM residents tried to attend the board of commissioners meeting on Wednesday accompanied by Common Ground, a nonpartisan community group, but discovered the meeting was not being held in-person.

Lead organizer of Common Ground, Jennifer O’Hear, said last week they requested to be put on Wednesday’s agenda but never heard back.

“They’re phoning it in,” O’Hear said. “They’re not even meeting in person. They’re avoiding residents. They’re avoiding hearing about our concerns. They’re online.”

HACM residents and Common Ground leaders, who last month issued a critical report on the housing authority, said executive director Willie Hines has failed to effectively implement the mission of HACM and should be removed from his position.

Betty Newton, an HACM resident and president of Beacher Court Resident Organization, said Hines needs to be held accountable.

Newton said she’s contacted Hines and has not received a response.

HACM Board of Commissioners has not responded to a request for comment.

“We live with mold,” Newton said. “We live with pests. We live with conditions you wouldn’t want your family in, but you expect us to live that way.”

Nicole Binns is also an HACM resident. She’s lived at the College Court Apartments for the past seven years and has had problems, including rent issues and bed bugs.

She said she believes HACM’s leadership has failed residents.

“We shouldn’t have all of these problems but we are,” Binns said. “So it’s time for us to advocate and get these people out of office.”

HACM residents and Common Ground said they plan to attend every board meeting until something is done.

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