"Home building in south Shiprock is in limbo. Ninety-one homes being built for Shiprock's Non-profit Housing and Development Corporation are on hold while a trustee of the Fort Defiance Housing Corporation sues Lodge Builder, the company contracted to finish the construction.

Marlene Lynch, acting chief financial officer of the Navajo Housing Authority (NHA), recently told The Daily Times that even though the project is shut down, the NHA is searching for another contractor to finish the current housing construction.

But the NHA has recently been dealt a blow of its own.

Former CEO Chester Carl was suspended Oct. 24 by the Department of Housing and Urban Development after admitting to using more than $100,000 in gambling chips belonging to Lodge Builder President Bill Aubry. At that time Carl's resignation became effective.

It is sad to see that much needed homes have been pushed aside by errors in judgment and bickering.

The lack of housing in San Juan County is in need of repair and we hope that these companies can quit their squabbling long enough to realize that they are not accomplishing anything � least of all the building of 91 houses."

Get the Story:
Housing officials bicker while families wait for homes (The Farmington Daily Times 11/24)

Relevant Links:
Office of Public and Indian Housing, HUD - http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih
National American Indian Housing Council - http://naihc.net

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