Hamilton Spectator
The city is discussing a possible takeover of troubled Urban Native Homes with the largest housing provider for aboriginals in Ontario.
The city invoked provincial law early this month to replace the Urban Native Homes board, citing concerns outlined in a newly released report that include inappropriate mortgages on government-funded homes, conflict-of-interest breaches and missing financial statements.
A Spectator probe two weeks ago showed the agency, which manages more than 210 subsidized units, has recently vacated its headquarters, fired a longtime executive director and off-loaded houses over mortgage problems that forced five families to relocate.
It remains enmeshed in lawsuits with former employees as well as contractors who worked on a never-ending renovation of a men’s residence on Kenilworth Avenue North. That project has sucked $4 million and counting from the beleaguered charitable agency, which receives more than $2.4 million a year in federal and city subsidies.
One of the funders of that nightmare renovation, Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services, might end up as a saviour for the local housing provider, however.
