City council member in Alexandria advocates for probe into Housing Authority CEO residing in government-funded housing

In a recent turn of events, Alexandria City Council member John Taylor Chapman has called for an investigation into Erik Johnson, the CEO of the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA). The controversy stems from Johnson's decision to move into a public housing property on Cook Street in July.

Johnson confirmed that he is in the process of moving out, but the investigation is necessary to understand the circumstances surrounding his temporary residence. Chapman is working with others within the city to conduct this investigation in an official capacity.

The ARHA Board of Commissioners has taken immediate corrective action and instructed Johnson to vacate the property immediately. This action was informed by the Board's awareness that Johnson moved into an ARHA property without the required approvals or knowledge of the Board.

The controversy has not gone unnoticed by the public. More than a dozen current and former ARHA tenants protested unfair treatment from their landlord at ARHA headquarters on Wednesday, August 20.

The City Council is demanding an investigation into the matter of the CEO's housing. The priority of the City Council is to ensure that residents in need of publicly assisted housing have it.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), it is a conflict of interest for a public housing agency (PHA) director to live on a property they manage. HUD also states that a covered individual or immediate family member may not enter into any contract or other arrangement in which they have a direct or indirect interest while they are a covered individual and for one year thereafter.

Johnson stated that he stayed in the ARHA property temporarily while transitioning residences. His stay was for less than a month.

The statement from the ARHA Board of Commissioners was issued on Thursday, August 21, 2022. Mayor Alyia Gaskins emphasized the need for accountability in this matter.

It is worth noting that the previous CEO of ARHA before Erik Johnson was Susan Thompson. The investigation is expected to shed light on the series of events leading up to Johnson's residence in an ARHA property.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has not yet released a statement regarding this matter. The investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge in the coming days.