Washington, DC - This week, Congressman Van Drew met with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Inspector General (IG) Rae Oliver Davis to discuss their focus on the ongoing health and safety crisis at Stanley Holmes Village. The Office of the Inspector General safeguards HUD's programs from fraud, waste, and abuse and identifies opportunities for HUD programs to progress and succeed, which helps the Department ensure health and safety standards in HUD-assisted housing. Reports indicate that no improvements to the living conditions at Stanley Holmes Village have been made, while concerns over the lack of action from the Atlantic City Housing Authority (the Authority) continue to grow. As such, IG Davis made it clear that the situation has her attention.
"During my conversation with the IG, it was reassuring to hear just how serious she is taking this issue," said Congressman Van Drew. "The concerns I shared regarding Stanley Holmes Village, such as lack of heat and hot water, fall directly under the scope of IG Davis and I am confident her priorities fall directly in line with my own. I look forward to continuing to work with her in the next steps of the process."
In line with their commitment to transparency and accountability, the Inspector General has established a hotline for anyone with knowledge of potential fraud, waste, or abuse related to HUD programs. She asks anyone with such information to contact 1-800-347-3735 or click here to visit their online website.
Background:
- In March of 2024, Congressman Van Drew sent a letter to the Office of the Inspector General of HUD to formally request an investigation into the Authority to determine if any criminal violations were committed in the past five years.
- This request comes following the discovery of 75 compliance violations, such as communities being left without heat and hot water, with no progress made to fix the situation.