Two Florida Low Cost Housing Nonprofits Embroiled in Controversies

In separate news reports, the Orlando Sentinel and Tampa Tribune have recently reported on troubles faced by nonprofit organizations that provide housing assistance to low income individuals.

In Leesburg, a lawsuit filed by the former executive director of the Community Development Corporation of Leesburg & Vicinity (CDC) claims that seven current or former CDC directors "commandeered" the CDC offices and shut them down, changed the locks and computer passwords, and urged tenants of CDC managed housing properties to withhold rent payments.

In Tampa, Sylvia Alvarez has received a lot of press from her involvement with the Housing and Education Alliance. The Tribune first reported in May that Alvarez provided information to federal investigators about alleged improprieties at the Hillsborough County Affordable Housing Office. In June, the Tribune reported that Alvarez told authorities three employees of the Affordable Housing Office "torpedoed her business because they wanted to create a company that would compete for the same contracts." A few days later, Tribune columnist Daniel Ruth wrote an article entitled "Ethics: Don't Leave Home Without Them" concerning the reports on Alvarez.

Today, the Tribune reports that Alvarez is at odds with homeowners of the Amber Place subdivision because of disputes over control of the homeowners association. Regardless of the merits of these claims, all of the above leads to the inescapable conclusion that central Florida public housing nonprofits will be facing some real challenges in the coming months.

If nothing else, the press reports reiterate the importance of getting some professional help public with public relations in times of crisis. It is a shame to see the hard work of many innocent individuals tarnished by allegations concerning a few individuals that seem to garner media attention that is out of proportion to the good works that nonprofits perform.