Tracy Scott, the embattled head of the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) was replaced Friday with new leadership. Mayor Brandon Johnson, who has championed public housing and pledged to increase access, thanked the executive “for her steadfast leadership.”
Angela Hurlock was named interim chief executive officer while a national search for Scott’s replacement is underway.
Prior to her 2020 appointment by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Scott was the interim executive director of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority. Her extensive career also included leadership roles in Atlanta.
With academic credentials from the Wharton School and Emory University, Scott brought a robust background in affordable housing and public administration. Under her leadership, CHA has focused on developing sustainable mixed-use, mixed-income communities and expanding support services to foster economic stability for families.
However, housing activists and others accused her of ignoring the needs of low-income people, and doing little to boost minority participation in securing CHA contracts. Last week the Crusader reported that a Black business leader called on the mayor to replace Scott and other administration leaders who are not “doing enough” to ensure African American contractors and professionals participate in bids.
Scott drew additional fire when she decided to lease land on the Near West Side, originally intended for public housing, to the Chicago Fire soccer team, at a time when people were in need of affordable housing, and others were complaining about conditions in some developments. Others claimed the executive did a poor job of handling public residential needs of CHA customers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
These concerns were echoed when she served in Minneapolis. Housing activists and proponents claimed Scott’s support for public-private partnerships did not prioritize the needs of public housing residents. Other concerns involved accusations about a lack of transparency and poor communication on residential policy changes.
Though the CHA is considered an independent unit of city government, with its $1.24 billion budget, the housing agency has mayoral oversight. Both the chief executive office and its board are appointed by the mayor. “This is a major step in the right direction,” said a person who bids on CHA contracts, but requested anonymity. “I think the mayor is listening to what we’re saying. It’s time to go forward, not backwards.”
Last week, the agency’s board approved contracts with two private management companies to supervise 16 CHA properties. Effective November 1, 2024, WinnResidential assumed management of 11 properties while 5T Management took over the management of five properties.
“CHA is excited to expand our vendor pool by establishing new relationships with these two firms. Winn is a national leader in property management and 5T is a local, minority and woman-owned property management firm. Both have demonstrated experience managing affordable housing and providing residents with high-quality service,” said CHA Deputy Chief Leonard Langston in an October 25th statement. “We are working hard to ensure that this will be a smooth transition and are confident that there will be no negative impacts to CHA residents or the day-to-day operations at these properties.”
The 16 CHA properties that WinnResidential and 5T Management will be overseeing represent approximately 3,400 apartments in 12 senior buildings and four family properties, the agency said. All of the properties have been managed by the Habitat Company LLC since 2021. Habitat notified CHA in early September that it would be discontinuing management of these properties effective November 1, 2024.
