advertisement

DuPage Housing Authority to name new director

A veteran administrator who has served in senior management posts at several housing agencies across the country will take the reins of the troubled DuPage Housing Authority.

The authority’s board of commissioners has completed its nationwide search and is expected Thursday morning to name David Hoicka as executive director.

Hoicka has held leadership roles in housing agencies in El Paso, New Orleans and Hawaii.

His appointment in DuPage will mark another major step in the county’s efforts to overhaul the organization that once mismanaged more than $10 million.

County board Chairman Dan Cronin last year forced the resignation of the authority’s former executive director, John Day, after learning about two audits critical of the agency by the federal Office of Inspector General.

Cronin replaced every member of the housing authority board when a third audit concluded the agency misspent more than $5.8 million in federal money and failed to adequately document another $4.7 million.

Auditors blamed Day and former DHA board members for the agency’s failure to follow its own policies and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines.

Hoicka’s background made him an ideal choice, officials said Tuesday.

“David has a wealth of experience working at agencies that were in trouble and needed some assistance,” housing authority Chairman Thomas Good said. “He’s even the author of several manuals on HUD regulations. We wanted someone with the experience he has.”

Hoicka, who will come to DuPage from San Francisco, was chosen from a pool of nearly 60 applicants in a search launched last spring by interim Director Cathy Terrill. Good said the selection process included testing and two levels of interviews.

In addition to publishing three handbooks on Section 8 and public housing, Hoicka also served as an adviser for public housing groups in Southeast Asia and Bahrain in the Persian Gulf.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.