An Alexander County official hopes the federal takeover of the public housing complex in Cairo will mean better days are ahead.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Monday it had taken possession of the Alexander County Housing Authority because of a long period of financial and operational mismanagement.
Alexander County Board chairman Chalen Tatum says budget cuts over the past 15 years or so have led to the deterioration of the housing units.
"I worked there ten years ago. I don't know how much, (but) I'm sure it's gotten worse, because the funding has been cut a little bit each year since then. So, I'm sure it has gotten worse. Before they wouldn't put money into it. But, I guess now they're willing to put money into it."
Tatum hopes HUD's action to take control for the time being will mean the federal agency is ready to sink some money into the housing complex.
He says Alexander County stands ready to help HUD find a new, local management team.
HUD assigned two public housing administrators to run the day-to-day operation until a new, local management team is put in place.
The Alexander County Housing Authority has nearly 500 units.
