HUD Investigates San Francisco Public Housing Contracts

Recently, federal inspectors launched an investigation into contracting practices at the San Francisco Housing Authority and are looking at all contracts and bids issued by the troubled agency during the tenure of its director, Henry Alvarez.            

The contracting allegations are part of a lawsuit filed against Alvarez by the agency's own lawyer and are among many recent dings against the agency and Alvarez, who took the helm in 2008. He is currently on medical leave and has said he would not seek to renew his contract, which expires in June.

Alvarez is also being sued by three employees who allege discrimination and retaliation, and was the subject of dozens of employee complaints to the mayor's office about his alleged bullying and intimidation of staff.

In addition, HUD is conducting an audit of the agency—separate from the contract investigation—after the Housing Authority scored 54 out of 100 on HUD's most recent investigation, placing it on the "troubled" list along with just one other housing authority in California. 

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