Navajo Dispute Over Housing Authority Grows

The dispute over the management of the Navajo Housing Authority escalated with President Russell Begaye and members of the 23rd Navajo Nation Council demanding the resignation or removal of the authority's managing officers.

The dispute stems from allegations that the authority has mismanaged hundreds of millions of dollars in federal money, creating an impression - according Begaye and the others - that "the Nation's ability to practically, and lawfully manage its affairs has been called into question.

"We believe the only way to overcome the overwhelming evidence of the incompetence of NHA is to seek qualified individuals who understand the needs of our people." (Have Patch send you breaking news alerts and newsletters.)

Things heated up last December when The Arizona Republic documented how, despite the fact that the authority had accepted more than $1.6 billion federal funds: More than $100 million had been spent on projects that never housed anyone; Much of the money remained unspent building up a surplus so large, the feds tried to take it back; and even when projects were built, they were plagued with construction problems.

"The board most recently demonstrated complete and blatant disregard for the Nation and its people through its recent series of extravagant use of discretionary funds for 'exigent professional development," Begaye and the others wrote.

"The numerous Board meetings and trips have become so excessive in nature that the Navajo Leadership has taken notice."

Begaye and the others said that despite housing being one of the two biggest needs for the Nation — and that the authority receives tens of millions in housing funds every year — the authority only constructed 26 homes last year.

The authority's leadership wrote back, saying that despite the fact they never officially received the Nation's letter, they were able to find a copy through someone else.

"Let us remind you that you are the ones who appointed us to fulfill the roles and responsibilities" of running the authority, the Board of Commissioners wrote in response.

The commissioners say they had taken the jobs in good faith only to find out the situation at the authority had been much worse than anyone had said. As a result, they have found themselves trying to right a sinking ship.

"Therefore, to request the 'resignation and/or removal of the managing officers of the Navajo Housing Authority' is completely out of line, outrageous and simply wrong," they wrote.

The authority also questioned the Nation's numbers, claiming in 2016 it built 119 units and modernized 50 others.

Commissioners also said in the past five years they have managed to reduce the surplus by nearly half and built more than 500 new units and modernized almost 900 others.

"We are also committed to transparency and making efficient use of our federal funding," they wrote.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is investigating the authority's finances.

Photo of Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye courtesy Navajo Nation