By Dennis Wagner | The Arizona Republic
The White Mountain Apache Housing Authority misspent millions of federal dollars on entertainment, gift certificates and other improper items, and is so badly managed it should be considered for receivership, according to a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development audit released this week.
A HUD Office of Inspector General report issued Tuesday also says the agency’s Southwest Office of Native American Programs should order the tribal housing agency to reimburse $2.3 million and acknowledge the unsupported spending of an additional $8.2 million.
Funds that were misappropriated or not properly accounted for made up more than two-thirds of the $14.4 million in Indian Housing Block Grant money provided to the tribe during 2011 and 2012, according to the audit.
