Yesterday, my mother and I had our yearly Recertification of eligibility appointment for the Wetumka Housing Authority. What concerns me most is the possibility that the Executive Director (ED) performed an unannounced inspection of our unit while we were away at the office. This suspicion arose when I saw the ED driving toward our unit just as we parked at the office, after a previously scheduled inspection was missed about two weeks ago. When we returned, I noticed our storm door was cracked open wider than usual, and the closet door, which we had closed, was ajar. My mother suggested the wind or a memory lapse could explain it, but I remain doubtful because my primary worry is whether an inspection occurred without our knowledge.
Anyway, when my mother and I went back to our unit after the Recertification of eligibility appointment. That’s when I noted the doors were either being cracked open or wider. Now we had plans to go to the Tecumseh Housing Authority, but my mother had gotten an email from the United States Postal Service (USPS) about finally getting the Electric Bill. After the mail ran, we went to the Tecumseh Housing Authority, hoping that the waiting list was not too long. Well, I think it was about an hour or so to get there. After getting there, I did my usual of getting my mother's scooter out of the KIA. I looked around like I did before and saw how nice the units looks on the outside. I saw the office of the Tecumseh Housing Authority and noted how it services it’s purpose without the need to look flashy. As we entered the office of the Tecumseh Housing Authority, there was a man there whom I’m only going to guess is the ED of the Tecumseh Housing Authority.
We told the ED that we were here to drop off the application that we got on our last visit. My mother told the ED that she was not sure how much of the application needed to be filled out. The ED told my mother that it needed to be completely filled out and started to look at the application. The ED helped my mother complete the missing parts of the application. The ED even asked me about my income. I told the ED that my income is from apps, crypto mining, and stock dividends. I asked the ED if any of that counts as any kind of income to him. The ED told me no and not to worry about it. While the ED was helping my mother with the application, I noted a sign on the counter. It said something like “No cash or credit cards.” I asked the ED about it, and he said that No Housing Authority was to accept anything other than Checks or Money Orders. I told him that was odd since the Wetumka Housing Authority accepts Cash. That's when the ED gave me a funny look and told me they are not supposed to.
Well, as we got the application sorted, the ED made sure to let us know that it’s a year minimum on the waiting list before we left the office. Now, before we left, I took another look around and started to hope that it wouldn’t take that long. We made a stop at the Shawnee Walmart before making our way back to our unit. On the way back to our unit, I started to wonder what else is the Wetumka Housing Authority is doing that it’s not supposed to. Then I start thinking about all the things I had to do just to get the problems with the kitchen addressed. Then I started thinking about all the things the Wetumka Housing Authority ED started doing after the kitchen was addressed. I then started thinking about what I would have done differently from what the Wetumka Housing Authority ED had done, if, say, I were the ED of the Wetumka Housing Authority.
First, I would eliminate all forms of conflict of interest. That means for me, I would have the administrative assistants address any issues relating to my unit since I live in it. I would then not hire any family members for any position in the Housing Authority. On my first day, I would goto each unit except my own to meet the tenants and make notes of any issues they are having with their unit that have not been addressed. This, to me, would be my attempt to get to know the tenants on a personal level. This would also serve as a means of knowing the needs of the tenants, if they have any needs not being met that the Housing Authority could help with, like a ramp or rails needing to be installed. I would make every effort for this Housing Authority to feel welcoming to ALL tenants. I feel it could be done, but right now, the damage is done, and there is no point in fixing it now.