With help from the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, Prince George’s County hopes to do a better job of managing housing programs and other community revitalization efforts. As reported by the Washington Post:
The arrangement is part of what County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) has said will be an overhaul of the agency, which has a budget of $92 million.
An audit last year by Virginia Tech, commissioned by the Prince George’s County Council and the Baker administration, is helping shape efforts to remake the agency. The review found that the county’s housing department operated with untrained staff members and lacked a long-term housing policy, allowing millions of dollars to be awarded to developers who had not met any formal criteria. Baker’s transition team said the agency had a “lack of leadership.”
An agreement between HUD and the county agency is expected to be signed Monday at Baker’s office in Upper Marlboro.