The Chicago Housing Authority has seen major turnover in recent months, with four top officials resigning and a high-ranking aide being fired over an inspector general investigation that found alleged financial and ethical misconduct.
Records obtained by the Tribune show that two high-ranking employees left with separation agreements that will pay them through their last day, with a third being paid over 4 1/2 months beyond his last day and a fourth being paid three months beyond her last day.
The shakeups at the CHA, which is one of the largest public housing authorities in the country and provides housing for 65,000 households, come as the agency searches for a permanent replacement for former CEO Tracey Scott.
CHA officials disclosed the turnover in response to open records requests filed by the Tribune. Eric Garrett, CHA’s former chief operating officer, and Ellen Sargent, the former deputy chief of building operations, resigned from their roles Jan. 3. Shiwei Zhou, CHA’s former treasurer, resigned Dec. 31, 2024. Ellen Harris, CHA’s former general counsel, resigned in August 2024.
Ryan Ross, CHA’s former senior director of asset management, was fired in September 2024.
The Office of the Inspector General found in the third quarter of last year that Ross, and other employees, cost CHA over $19,000 in “unnecessary expenses” for construction work. Ross also violated CHA procurement policies; compromised an OIG investigation into the work of a CHA contractor; was involved in a “troubling workplace environment … in which at least six employees expressed fear of reprisal for questioning management or raising concerns”; and had “long-term violations” related to secondary employment, “conflicts of interest and financial relationships with a CHA Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) vendor, exhibited repeated lapses in ethical judgment, and made false statements.”
In regards to the relationship with the voucher vendor, the OIG reported that Ross “engaged in a scheme to conceal the vendor’s real estate assets from ongoing criminal proceedings, by briefly taking legal ownership of the HCV properties.”
Ross also had a “close friendship” with a direct subordinate, which “involved financial assistance and employment” in Ross’s unauthorized secondary employment , the OIG report said.
Ross’s department head, the OIG said, “more likely than not” knew of this relationship and secondary employment and did not follow CHA’s procedures to address the issues. Ross’s department head reported to Garrett, according to CHA, and the department head and the other employee involved received a “written reprimand” for their actions, the OIG report said.
The department head, Leonard Langston, has since been promoted on an interim basis, CHA said, to chief property officer to plug a hole caused by some of the recent resignations.
CHA spokesperson Matthew Aguilar said the agency could not comment on personnel matters but called the staff turnover “a routine part of any organization.”
“These changes, whether voluntary, mutual or based on organizational needs and/or performance expectations, ensure the agency is structured to fulfill its mission and responsibilities to the public,” Aguilar said in a written statement to the Tribune.
Harris referred the Tribune to CHA for comment. Ross, Garrett, Sargent and Zhou did not return the Tribune’s requests for comment.
Ross received his last paycheck on Sept. 20, 2024, the official date of his termination. His last day of work was Sept. 18, 2024.
Garrett will stay employed with CHA through Feb. 28 and receive his current salary as severance through July 18, according to his separation agreement. Sargent’s separation agreement states that her last day of employment is March 6, and she will maintain her current salary through that same date. Zhou will receive her current salary through March 31. Harris maintained her salary through Nov. 29, 2024, her last day of employment.
Ross started at CHA as a quality control analyst in 2011 and rose through the ranks. Garrett also reached his position after numerous promotions during his 26-year tenure. Sargent had worked at CHA for 11 years in a couple different roles. Zhou began her role in March 2023. Harris served as general counsel for about two years.
In the midst of the personnel changes and included in the final 2024 quarter’s OIG report, an OIG audit found that CHA’s department of building operations “failed to monitor capital construction projects.” The OIG cited issues similar to some of the reasons listed for Ross’s firing.
Aguilar said the “deficiencies” cited in the audit “have not affected” the agency’s ability to add new CHA-subsidized housing, saying its capital construction team primarily oversees renovations and repairs of existing properties, not new construction.
“CHA is continuing our commitment to enhancing and improving our processes and addressing internal infrastructure to advance our mission of providing housing for more than 135,000 Chicago residents,” Aguilar said. “We have accepted the OIG’s quality control recommendations and are updating contracting procedures, training efforts and internal review process to improve compliance and cost control.”
Kathryn Richards, CHA’s inspector general, said she has been “encouraged” by recent efforts to “improve CHA’s internal controls and management oversight.”
“I’m optimistic that with a renewed commitment to transparency and continuous improvement, the agency will move in the right direction,” Richards said.
At CHA’s January board meeting, the board approved an amended ethics policy to require all employees to disclose their and family members’ involvement in all federal housing programs. Previously, the policy had only required disclosure if they were involved in the Housing Choice Voucher program, the primary federal housing voucher program. Formerly known as Section 8, it allows public housing authorities to provide subsidies to low-income residents to find housing in the private market. The policy change, CHA said, was made following an OIG recommendation, but the housing authority declined to comment on if it directly related to Ross’s termination.
Elizabeth Silas, CHA’s deputy counsel, has been serving as CHA’s acting general counsel. CHA declined to comment on when a permanent replacement will be hired as general counsel. The agency said the deputy chief of building operations position has been posted, and CHA is currently interviewing for the treasurer role. CHA did not comment on the status of the COO position.
Scott, who served as CEO for 4 1/2 years, was replaced in the interim by Angela Hurlock, the chairperson of the board. CHA has had six permanent CEOs in the last 20 years, not including a number of interim CEOs such as Hurlock.
CHA is launching a national search for a permanent replacement and will be forming a search committee made up of CHA board members, resident leaders and government partners “to ensure a broad range of perspectives,” Aguilar said.
The agency said it hopes to have a new CEO by this summer.
Former Chicago Tribune reporter Sylvan Lebrun contributed.
