MHA Progression Update

MHA Progression

Data shows the Mobile Housing Authority continues to strengthen and reach goals set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

MHA would like to provide an update regarding the agency's Regulatory Agreement Compliance Progression.

As of January 25, 2023, MHA was found by HUD’s Birmingham Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) to have satisfied and met the terms of the Voluntary Compliance Agreement.

The Voluntary Compliance Agreement was executed on June 18, 2018.

HUD conducted a compliance review of MHA in Q3’17. The purpose of the review was to determine whether MHA administers its Low-Rent Housing and Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) in compliance with the laws and regulations. The Department found MHA in noncompliance with the statutory and regulatory requirements of Section 504, ADA, and Section 3.

MHA entered into an agreement to resolve their disputes with respect to noncompliance in a timely manner.

As of January 19, 2023, MHA was found by HUD’s Birmingham Field Office to have completed 75% of the Recovery Agreement. The Recovery Agreement was executed on May 10, 2018.

The Mobile Housing Authority was designed Troubled or Substandard for financial, physical and/or management indicators, or other such deficiencies identified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

As a result, under the United States Housing Act of 1937, HUD was required to enter into a Recovery Agreement with MHA and the City of Mobile that establish:

• * performance targets
• * set out strategies for meeting targets
• * provide for incentives and sanctions for effective implementation of the strategies leading to recovery of performance
• * attain an improved status of at least Standard Performer

MHA’s recovery of performance is intended to lead to a sustainable sound fiscal management and good governance.

CEO Michael Pierce was hired by the Board of Commissioners in 2019 and tasked with:

• * satisfactorily resolving both delinquent regulatory agreements
• * improving strained relations with HUD
• * filling long crucial vacant executive positions
• * overseeing the conversion of the agency’s public housing portfolio through the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program
• * creating an organizational culture of accountability, professionalism and performance excellence

Despite the overwhelming challenges confronting the understaffed agency, CEO Pierce, staff, and the HUD experienced executive consultants hired, have made remarkable progress in just under four years.

What makes MHA’s progression remarkable is it occurred despite the COVID-19 Pandemic bringing the world and commerce to a grinding halt for practically two years. Therefore, the level of unprecedented progress in truly uncertain times validates MHA’s organizational culture has transitioned to one of accountability, professionalism and performance excellence.