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HPHA credit card statements

Release of Hickory Public Housing Authority credit card statements

On Oct. 1, 2024, the Hickory City Council first considered adopting a resolution to abolish the Hickory Public Housing Authority (HPHA) and to transfer their duties to the Western Piedmont Council of Governments (WPCOG). The consideration of this action was in response to both poor performance by the HPHA in the utilization rate of their United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 8 Vouchers and numerous complaints that had been lodged by citizens against the HPHA.  

Before taking action to abolish the HPHA, the Hickory City Council moved to more fully understand any financial liabilities that would be present upon taking such action.  

In response to the City considering abolishing the HPHA, on Nov. 4, 2024, five long-serving HPHA Board members resigned from the HPHA Board. During the course of 2024, Hickory Mayor Hank Guess appointed four new HPHA Board members. City officials are now working with those four new Board members and the two remaining Board members to determine the financial position of the HPHA. Through the cooperation of the current HPHA Board, much progress has been made in that effort. 

On Jan. 9, 2025, the HPHA Board and the City of Hickory received credit card statements from the HPHA related to the usage of one of their credit cards in the name of Alanda Richardson, CEO of the HPHA, dating from July 5, 2022, to Sept. 9, 2024. Those credit card statements reveal multiple questionable charges apparently made by Ms. Richardson, which are being evaluated further. Those credit card statements are available here. In that Ms. Richardson is not a City of Hickory employee and the City of Hickory’s finances are completely separate from the HPHA’s, none of these charges impacted the City’s finances.  

Since the HPHA exists to administer HUD’s Section 8 Voucher Program, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has been contacted and made aware of this situation. As more comes to light through the ongoing evaluation of the HPHA’s financial situation and past activities, more information will be shared. 

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