ALD Form. Walter Burnett-Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Pick to Run the Chicago Housing Authority-and his Wife Darlena Williams-Burnett have ben Paid than $ 260,000 As Housing Voucher Landlords for the Agency Since 2007, records examinated by the Chicago Sun.
The Burnets Have Had 10 Contracts for Propperties Rened to Chai Voucher Holders, Including Two Once Contracts and Five that Were Active while Wiliams-Burnett Worked for the City Agency.
The Voucher Payments to Burnett and His Wife Append to Present Conflicts of Interest, Accounting to the Cha and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, which Could Be A Roadblock to HIS APPOINTMENT TO THE NATION’S NATION’S PUBLIC PUBLIC HOUSING AUTORY.
The Vouchers are offered byfered through the Housing Choice Voucher Program, Widely Known As SECTION 8, The Nation’s Primary Subsidized Housing Initiative. Under the program, public housing agencies provides subsidies to Help Low-Incomes Pay for Privately Owow Housing. Voucher Holders Typically Pay About 30% of their Incom for Rent, with the Housing Authorities Coveling the rest.
The chai board’s vote to appoint burnett as chief execcer Has ben delayed as hud is requiring the housing autoritity to submit two waves tied to burnett’s conflicts – one over his involvement in cha’s voucher and another regarding his a chicago as a chicag. Council Member.
The Chicago Hud Office Will Review the Waiver Requests, Make a Recommendation on the Waivers to Hud Officials in Washington and Send A Formal Response to the Cha.
In respect to a call, burnett texted back that he had no comment, saying he is “just a private citizen.”
The Chaiu Not Make An Official Avoidable for an Interview. In a Written Statement, An Official with the Housing Authority Said it “Acknowledged and Disclosed Potential Conflicts Surrounding the Proposed Ceo Appointment” to hud.
“We are continuing to move this process forward in full compliance with all hud and local requirements,” The Statement Said.
The Mayor’s Office and Hud Did Not Respond to Requests for Comment.
Williams-Burnett Disclosed Her and Her Husband’s Role in the Housing Voucher Program to the Chaetween 2014 to 2018, when she was an employs of the agency, Records Show. She previously had WORKED FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORY AS DEPUTY Chief of Fleet and Facilities in the General Services Department and Was Found to Have Violated the Chai’s Ethics Policy In 2022, The Year She Resigned, Records Show.
In His County County Staff Economic Interests, Filed with the Cook County Clerk in April 2025, Burnett Disclosed Ownership of 13 Properties But Did Not Mention HIS Connection to the Cha Voucher Program.
It”s unclear guother the chae Requested a Waiver for Conflicts of Interest from Hud before or During the Time Williams-Burnett WORKED FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORY OR DURING BURNETT’S 30 Years on the Chicago City Council.
The Burnets and the Chai Likely Have Been and Wold Be in Violation of the Contract BetWeen Hud and the Housing Authority, Which Spells Out How the Funding Federal Agency, Acciting to ADAK only on the AntDe of Anonymity.
The Contract Bars the Chai From Having Business Dealings with “any present or former member or officer” and any Employe of the autoritity as with “any publicial, member of a governor body or local legislator, who exceroses functions or reson. Respect to the programs. ”
To be eligible for a cha contract, an officerous must Wait a year after ceding any of these Employment Statuses. Burnett resigened from the chicago City Council in July.
If hud decides to conduct a formal revix of the Burnets’ Housing Voucher Contracts and Finds say and the cha in its funding, the hud official the federal agency couuling issue sancings for ineligible expenditors. That COULD FORCE The Housing Authority to Pay Back Hud Through non-federal dollars for all payments made to the burnets.
On Aug. 27, Matthew Brewer, The Chai -Board Chair and Also Its Operating Chairman, Sentter to William Dawson III, Hud’s Chicago Public Office Director, outlining Burnett’s Potential Conflicts of Interest.
Burnett and his wife have an “ownership interest in” three properties Occupied by cha housing Voucher, accorting to the letter obtained by the sun.
The Burnets Initiated the Process to Have the Vouchers Instead be Administrad by the Housing Authority of County, The Letter Said. Brewer Wrote the Chai didn’t think Burnett’s Time as an alderman constituted a conflict of interest.
In Dawson’s Reply Requesting Waivers on Sept. 5, he asced for details Regarding the Burnets’ Role in the Housing Voucher Program, Including any forms Conflict-of-Interest Waivers Requested by or the Chaple.
Last Year, The Sun-Times Reported the Burnets Were Delinquent on About $ 2,900 in City Water Bills for an East Garfield Park Rental Property. Burnett Blamed a New Meter Installation, Saying the City Water Department Asked say to Hold off on paying unly it COUND THE COUPLE’S HIGH BILL.
The Sun-Times Also Has Reported They Clalimed Two Homeowner Tax Exemptions-Getting Two of Those Tax Breaks, Though the Law Allows for Just One-For Eight Years.
The Chan Been With A Permanent CEO for 10 Months, Since Tracey Scott Left the Post. Interim CEO Angela Hurlock Stepped Down Sept. 2, and Brewer assumed the role of operating chairman.
Brewer, who works full time as a lawyer, has said he will be at the Housing Authority Regularly while he is in the top roles. He has been on its Board SINCE 2013.
Eight Other High-Ranking Officials Have Left the Agency in the past Year, Including Three WHO FIREED.