Washington, DC - Last week, Congressman Van Drew sent a third letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia Fudge demanding she meet with community members at the Atlantic City Housing Authority (the Authority) and take immediate action to ensure the safety of residents. Congressman Van Drew initially sent a letter on November 12th, 2023, requesting a federal takeover of the Authority after a HUD audit requested by the Congressman found 75 distinct compliance violations, including communities being left with no heat and no hot water as winter was approaching. After receiving no response, Congressman Van Drew sent a second letter on December 1st, 2023, urging HUD to step in as residents were being forced to leave their homes due to mold and lack of heat.

"Since HUD has failed to make any impactful changes for the residents of Stanley Holmes, I am demanding that Secretary Fudge meet with residents living in these communities so she can witness first-hand the unbearable conditions they are left with after Atlantic City leadership has failed them," said Congressman Van Drew. "Last weekend, residents were left without heat during a Code Blue freeze. The conditions that the Authority has failed to resolve for its residents are not just unsafe, they are inhumane. 

"As I have said before, it is clear that the Authority does not possess the ability or competency to solve these problems, necessitating immediate federal action. This is an egregious failure of leadership to allow residents to be left without heat or hot water during the height of winter. The Authority's refusal to take action is putting every single resident in a life-or-death situation, and it is absolutely imperative that the federal government step in; we cannot allow this problem to persist any longer."

Click here to read the full letter.