IHA’s new 12-month plan outlines goals for future

The Indianapolis Housing Agency presented a 12-month action plan Monday. The initiative aims to better internal operations, improve property upkeep and restore the struggling agency’s reputation.

The plan, coined a “A New Day and Better IHA,” has five focal points: operations, finances, people, properties and safety.

CEO of IHA Yvonda Bean unveiled the plan on her 12 week anniversary in the role. She said the new initiative will hold the housing agency accountable.

“We're OK with being held to the fire,” Bean said. “We want to be transparent. That's a part of restoring the relationships.”

For decades, IHA’s mismanagement and dysfunction has led to lack of trust from the public, clients and residents.

As outlined in the plan, IHA will be selling several of its multi-family properties. Those include: Blackburn Terrace, Beechwood Gardens, Laurelwood Apartments, Rowney Terrace, Hawthorne Place, Twin Hills and 16 Park.

A requirement of any purchase will be that properties remain affordable so families can continue to be housed there.

Efforts to improve security at IHA’s properties are underway. Residents have consistently complained about unsafe conditions at properties. IHA partnered with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department to create crime watch groups for their communities. The housing agency also plans to devise an emergency preparedness plan for residents.

“That includes things like fire drills, evacuation plans to ensure and facilitate safety for our residents,” Bean said.

IHA will invest in technological advancements, such as cybersecurity and data protection software, to protect residents personal information. IHA had two data breaches in recent years.

In-house training, a logo rebrand and the development of a balanced budget are among some of the initiatives also included in the plan.

With looming cuts to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, future funding will also be a challenge IHA must overcome. Bean said it's unlikely the initial budget will be approved by Congress, but the agency is having conversations about what their funding model could look like if cuts do happen.

“We are definitely in uncertain times and we're talking through and trying to ensure that we don't have families that are left behind,” Bean said.

IHA’s action plan includes assessing deferred maintenance needs at properties across the city, developing a strategic plan with resident input and launching a new user-friendly website.

“We did not get here overnight,” Bean said. “This is years of not necessarily doing everything in the manner in which we should … We cannot do anything about what has happened, but what we can do is control what happens going forward.”

Contact WFYI Morning Edition newscaster and reporter Abriana Herron at aherron@wfyi.org.