Checks Delayed From Spartanburg Housing Authority

The Spartanburg Housing Authority exists to help make those with little income more self-sufficient. But many depend on the federal dollars they receive from this agency to pay their utility bills. This month 27 families across Spartanburg county received those payments a week late.

One of the residents we spoke with said that late payment left her behind on her utility payments. She said she had to take out a loan to make sure her utility payments were on time.

Director of Housing Operations, Raymond Davis, said in addition to the families affected, 20 other checks sent to landlords also didn't go out on time.

7 On Your Side wants to know what caused the delay and what's being done to prevent a similar error?

Davis said an employee stuffed the envelopes and put them in another employee's desk to be mailed out but failed to communicate. When News Channel 7's Dianne Derby asked Davis how SHA is going to make sure something like this doesn't happen again he replied, "Monitoring is the first thing. We have processes and procedures we have to adhere to them. Unfortunately, when that doesn't occur we need to go back and make sure first and foremost that the process was handled and carried out accurately. In this particular case it was not."

When asked what happens to the employee Davis replied, "That's a personnel matter and certainly we'll be addressing that in house but we certainly apologize to the tenants that were effected by this."

Davis said any residents who were stuck with late payments from utility companies can visit or call the housing authority for help.

"This problem as isolated as it is still an impact our participants," Davis said. "It's unfortunate, we are terribly disappointed that they had to go through this time. We have to make sure we are good stewards over the resources that the federal government is entrusted us and that we are giving out to those who need them the most."

Davis told us the new Executive Director of the Spartanburg Housing Authority recently established a compliance monitoring position. He said that person's role will be to double check all processes and procedures to make sure they are done correctly.

In South Carolina those living in public housing or receiving Section 8 assistance make about $10,500 each year. Twenty-one percent stay less than a year and 17% have children less than five years old living with them.