Mack Clifton

"Remove the current director as my first task in regard to that agency, and place the deputy mayor of the Offices of Economic and Neighborhood Development directly in charge of Housing, with a requirement to personally inspect public housing facilities every three months."

Shelia Dixon

• Break-up HCD and HABC and Bring in New Leadership. I will make finding new leadership at the housing department one of my top priorities. I will conduct a national search for a new Commissioner with significant input from HABC’s Resident Advisory Board. To bring back the “Community” in DHCD, I will hire a separate commissioner for the housing department and executive director for HABC.
  
  
• Bring HABC procurement under the Board of Estimates. M/WBE participation in Housing Authority procurement should be brought under the review authority of the Board of Estimates similarly to the deference shown by the city to the state when city contracts are funded in whole or in part with state funds.
  
  
• Make HABC Salary Information Public. All Housing Authority salary information will be made public in conformance to all Baltimore City employee salaries to increase transparency and prevent the practice of “double dipping.”

Elizabeth Embry

"I have grave concerns about the leadership in the Housing Authority. From the sex for repairs scandal to deplorable living conditions in public housing, and from the quiet elimination of the agency’s Inspector General to reports of retaliation against whistleblowers, the Authority has shown a lack of leadership, urgency and oversight. Housing Commissioner Graziani must step down.

But beyond that, our approach to housing in the city is in desperate need of reform. As Mayor, I will restore the dollar houses program, a once successful initiative in Baltimore that sold vacant houses for $1 and loaned money to the owners for renovations. I will expand the use of community land trusts, which empower local nonprofits to take control of vacant buildings and empty land, develop the property, and then retain a stake for the long term benefit of the neighborhood. I will expand the Healthy Neighborhoods capital pool, which seeks to grow neighborhoods by offering below-market loans in areas plagued by disinvestment. And I will leverage the 21st Century School Building Plan to promote school-centric neighborhood development."

Nick Mosby

"I was the first major mayoral candidate to call for Paul Graziano to resign or be removed from office, and stand by that being a first order of business. I will also conduct an immediate audit of the department, and restore the department’s office of inspector general." 

Carl Stokes

"I will change current leadership. The Department of Housing and Community Development stopped being a leader in the community development part of its mission years ago and in terms of public housing became an entrenched bureaucracy that lost touch with the residents of public housing. This was caused by failed leadership both by the mayor and commissioner."

David Warnock

"For too long, the Housing Authority of Baltimore City hasn’t had the best interests of our city’s residents in mind, and typical politicians have failed to hold HABC accountable. I believe the citizens of Baltimore, including our public housing residents, should be treated with respect, and that means holding agency leaders accountable.

First, we need to demand annual, public audits of our housing department to increase transparency and accountability, understand funding priorities, and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse. We also need to root out corruption and restore public trust in the Housing Authority of Baltimore City, and ensure that public housing in Baltimore is safe for all of it’s residents. We have to instill a culture of customer service in Baltimore Housing to ensure that residents, and those doing business in Baltimore City, are treated with respect.

Lastly, it comes down to leadership. Baltimore City needs a mayor who will appoint agency leaders who treat citizens as customers, and treats residents with respect and openness. That means a renewed focus on customer service, including setting public goals for each city agency and regularly documenting progress toward those goals. With that, we can get the Housing Authority of Baltimore City back on track. 

You can read my detailed housing position paper here and watch a video with real people talking about where I stand on housing here."