Westmoreland County Housing Authority

William Trimble

The person on the phone was very nice however being homeless and in need of rental assistance to down payment would have been nice but I needed a social security card and have an application mailed which is kind of hard to do I should have taken weeks and it doesn't really help out too much so I thank the lady who talked to me but I guess I'm just going to be headed out to a bridge or shelter unfortunately for the holidays

Brad Prentice

Mike Washowich and his team are awesome to deal with.

Roberto Alphonse

The Inspector General's office of HUD audited the Westmoreland County Housing Authority's program in 2016. The objective was to determine whether the authority managed the waiting list appropriately in accordance with the HUD program. The audit discovered that the authority did not always ensure that the waiting list was accurate or that it selected applicants from the waiting list appropriately. The unfair conditions existed because the authority failed to follow the policies and procedures established in its plan with HUD. As a result, applicants were not treated fairly and consistently by the authority. The majority who are not being treated fairly are the ones who made application for the South Greengate Commons. Those applicants are low income elderly residents or those who are disabled or handicapped. Many veterans are also being denied housing even though they meet the age and income requirements. Several applicants have appealed to the executive director but he refuses to address this inequality when questioned by the applicants.The county commissioners have been notified and are looking into this serious matter. It's my opinion that the current executive director and a new board of directors be removed and new ones appointed as soon as possible. The public needs to know how family members and loved one are being treated by the housing authority whenever they file an application for an apartment. This is the main purpose of my letter to the editor. Rich, I had my six month appointment with my new PCP today. While reviewing my health history he asked me where I live. He then questioned when I moved into the building. He then proceeded to inform me that he has current and former patients who had breathing and other problems from the smoke of marijuana throughout the building. I informed him that I and others reported the problem to the housing authority but nothing was done about. I notified him that I contacted the commissioners and other agencies and he said numerous times that something must be done now based on the comments from his patients. I hope this additional insight provides the information needed to make changes in the Hempfield Towers and the housing authority administration.